Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #3b
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 abbreviated signature: a compact zigzag 'M' with a short following letterform, a gap, then a large looped 'P' running into a long low trailing stroke. Written vertically along the right edge. | R1-R6 and R8 all show the same two-part shape: a zigzag 'M' resembling 'Ze/Ml', then 'P' with a bowl and a long horizontal finishing stroke. The first unit is roughly as tall as the 'P'. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Read rotated, the baseline is fairly level with a slight right lean, consistent with a quick on-card signature. | Mostly level baselines with a mild right slant. Some upward drift in R5 and R6. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | 'M' is built as angular peaks with a pointed apex and a short connected tail. 'P' has an open, rounded bowl, then compressed angular forms ('g/t' zone) and a crossbar-like extended stroke. | Same angular 'M' peaks (clearest in R1, R3, R4, R8). The 'P' bowl and compressed tail with a long crossing or terminal stroke appear in R1, R2, R3, R8. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The 'M' unit is connected internally. There is a lift between the first-name and surname units, and the surname unit is connected into the terminal stroke. | The same two-unit connection pattern with a single lift between initials appears across the references. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Entry at the top-left of the 'M' with no visible blunt start. Ends in an extended, tapering horizontal stroke. | Tapered long terminal strokes (R1, R3, R8 especially). Entry strokes are similar. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes appear fluid with tapering. No visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. Density is slightly uneven, which is typical of a marker on glossy sticker stock. | Fast, fluid marker lines with tapering. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on downstrokes of the 'M' and the 'P' bowl, lighter on the terminal stroke. Some variation in ink saturation. | Similar heavier downstrokes and lighter finishing strokes. | Match |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the first-name and surname units. The surname unit is compressed. | Comparable gaps. R4 and R6 are somewhat tighter. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No separate underline. The long terminal stroke acts as the flourish. | No underlines. The long terminal stroke is the habitual flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Vertical along the right margin over the artwork and border area, upper half of the card. Medium-large relative to the sticker. | References are horizontal crops, so orientation varies by item. Size relative to the card is comparable where visible. Vertical placement on a portrait sticker is plausible for a quick artist signing. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | Ink appears to sit over the printed art (red/blue background and card number area). No obvious halftone dot pattern at this resolution. The signature is not printed in a fixed template position. | N/A (references assumed live ink by Crown review). | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our item is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids sticker (No. 3b, Chanel 6), and the slab label names it an artist auto. All eight references are from the same recent Magic Marker Art / artist-signed parody sticker and card line (Nintendopes, Horrorible Kids), likely 2023-2024. That puts ours and every reference in essentially the same era, so career drift is not a factor. Differences are best explained by surface (glossy sticker stock over dark or saturated art), pen and ink colour (blue vs. black), signing speed and orientation. Ours was signed vertically along the right margin.
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.
