Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #6a
Findings
Signature comparison
This card. The signature as cropped from the slab photo (front).
Below, the known examples Crown compared it with. Examples with stronger proof (signed in front of staff, or certified by an independent authenticator) carry the most weight.
Feature by feature
| Feature | This card | Known examples | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall form and proportions | Two-part signature: an angular zigzag 'M' form, a gap, then a 'P' and abbreviated surname ending in a long trailing stroke. It is compact, about 2:1 surname-to-initial width. | R1–R8 all show the same two-unit structure: a zigzag 'M' block, a separate 'P', and a compressed surname with a long terminal stroke. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the right edge of the card. Relative to the signature itself, it has a slight rightward slant and a mildly rising baseline. | R2–R8 are mostly horizontal with a slight rightward slant and a level-to-rising baseline. R1 rises more noticeably. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is a fast N/zigzag with a sharp descending return. The 'P' is a tall stem with a closed bowl. The surname reduces to a looped 'g'-like form and a crossed 't'. | The same reduced 'M' zigzag appears in R1, R3, R4 and R8. The 'P' stem and bowl with the crossed-t terminal appears in R1, R2, R4, R6 and R7. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The 'M' is executed as one continuous zigzag. There is a pen lift before the 'P', and the surname letters are connected. | All references show the same lift between the 'M' and 'P' units and connected surname strokes. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The start is tapered. The ending is an extended horizontal finishing stroke from the t-crossing, with a tapered exit. | Tapered starts and a long t-crossing exit stroke appear in R1, R4, R6, R7 and R8. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes appear fluid, with no visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. Terminals are tapered. | References are fast and fluid. R1 is the slowest and most legible. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Some density variation is visible, with heavier strokes on the downstrokes. | Similar downstroke emphasis is visible in R3, R5 and R8. | Match |
| Spacing | Clear gap between the initial and the surname. The surname is compressed. | Same spacing habit throughout R1–R8. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended terminal stroke serves as the flourish. | No underlines in any reference. The terminal extension is consistent. | Match |
| Placement and size | Vertical, in the right-hand art area. It crosses the bat, star and puck print elements and does not obscure the title. | References are typically horizontal over the artwork. Reference crops do not show full-card placement, so placement habits are not directly comparable. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | Ink appears to sit over the printed artwork, and its density varies. No halftone pattern is visible at this resolution. | Not applicable. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Ours is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Open Edition artist auto. R2–R8 are Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition artist autos from the same Magic Marker Art product family and likely the same 2020s period, so they are contemporaneous. R1 (Horrorible Kids Series 9, 01/10) is also recent but was signed larger and more deliberately on a light background. None of the differences appear to be era-driven.
How Crown authenticates autographs: the signature is compared with known examples gathered from Crown's own authenticated cards, independent authenticators and public listings, measured by software, examined by an AI forensic model, and signed off by Crown Grading staff. The decision above is Crown's.
