Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #45b
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 | Abbreviated two-part signature: a compact zigzag 'M' unit, then a 'P' unit with a long trailing t-cross. The P/t unit is roughly 1.5x the width of the M unit. | Every reference shows the same two-part abbreviated structure with the same relative proportions. R1, R5 and R8 are especially close. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Strong rightward slant on the M zigzag. The baseline rises slightly toward the t-cross. On the card it is signed rotated, running vertically along the left margin. | Same right slant and slight rising baseline in R1, R2, R5 and R8. R6 is flatter, consistent with a faster or broader marker. | Match |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is an angular zigzag: down, up, down, ending in a small looped 'l'-like upstroke. The 'P' is a tall stem with an open bowl that loops back. A small 'g/t' form follows. | Identical construction of the zigzag M plus loop and the open-bowl P in R1, R3, R5, R7 and R8. R6's P/t area is smeared but structurally the same. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The M zigzag connects continuously into its trailing loop. There is a pen lift before the P, and the P bowl flows into the following forms. | Same lift between the M unit and the P unit in all references, with the same continuous connections within each unit. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The M starts with a tapered entry stroke. The signature ends with a long horizontal t-cross that tapers to a fine tail. | Tapered entry and long tapered terminal crossbar seen in R1, R2, R4, R5 and R8. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes with natural tapering and width variation from marker angle. No visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | Similar rapid line quality throughout. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on the downstrokes of the M and the P stem, lighter on the upstrokes and the crossbar tail. | Same downstroke emphasis visible in R1, R3 and R8. | Match |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the M unit and the P unit. The P/t elements are tightly grouped. | Comparable spacing across references, with minor variation. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended t-cross serves as the terminal flourish. | Same extended crossbar in all references. No underline in any. | Match |
| Placement and size | Blue marker, signed vertically along the left edge, partly over the background art beside the character. Moderate size. | The crops do not show full-card placement. Ink colors vary (blue, black) across references, which is normal for an artist signing many stickers. | Not assessable |
| Reproduction indicators | No halftone or dot pattern visible. Ink shows natural density variation and stroke-edge irregularity. The placement is not a uniform facsimile position. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition (No. 45b) artist-signed sticker. R2, R3, R4, R5, R7 and R8 come from the same Nintendopes artist-auto issue, so they are contemporaneous. R1 (Horrorible Kids Series 9) and R6 (Slop Culture Kids) are other Magic Marker Art releases from roughly the same early-2020s period. No meaningful era drift is expected. Differences across the set are best explained by surface (glossy sticker stock vs. card), marker color and width, and signing speed in a production-style session.
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.
