Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #37b
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 angular 'M' reads almost like 'Nl'/'lc'. A gap follows, then a taller 'P' with a looped bowl and a trailing 'gt'/'t' ending. The first-name block and the surname block are roughly equal in width. | R1–R8 show the same two-block abbreviation with a similar M-block to P-block width ratio. R4 and R8 are more compressed or looser, within normal range. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | The signature runs vertically up the left edge of the card. Read along its own axis it has a moderate right slant and a fairly level baseline with a slight rise into the P. | R1, R2, R5 and R7 show a moderate right slant and a level-to-slightly-rising baseline. R3 and R6 are a bit more upright. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The 'M' starts with a tall downstroke, then a hooked arch and a small loop. The 'P' has a tall stem and an open bowl, and the surname resolves into a crossed 't'-like terminal. | Same construction throughout. The M has an angular entry and a small hooked loop, and the P has a tall stem with its bowl turning into a short run to a crossed terminal (most legible in R1, R2, R5, R7). | Match |
| Connecting strokes and pen lifts | There is a clear pen lift between the M-block and the P-block, and a connected run within the surname. | Every reference shows the same lift between the blocks and a connected surname run. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Tapered entry into the M. The terminal stroke on the 't' extends to the right and appears to taper. | Tapered entries. The terminal cross or tail extends right, long in R1 and R8 and shorter in R3 and R4. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes look fluid with no visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. Ink density varies along the strokes. | Fast, confident marker strokes in all references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on the downstrokes, lighter on the connectors. Hard to evaluate fully at this resolution. | Similar downstroke emphasis in R2, R5, R6 and R7. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the M-block and the P-block. | Comparable inter-block gap across the references. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. Only a terminal extension. | No underlines in any reference. Terminal extensions only. | Match |
| Placement, size and ink | Dark blue/blue-black marker, signed sideways along the lower-left border over the fence/grass art, scaled to the card. | The R2–R7 stickers are signed in black or dark blue on the card face, and R1 and R8 in bright blue. Placement in the references is cropped, so a sideways orientation is not directly comparable but is plausible for hand-signed artist cards. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | At this resolution there is no visible halftone or dot pattern in the strokes, and the ink appears to sit on top of the printed art. This cannot be confirmed from the image. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition artist auto (37b). R2–R7 come from the same Nintendopes open-edition set and are almost certainly the same signing period, so they are the most directly comparable. R1 (Horrorible Kids Series 9) and R8 (Slop Culture Kids) are other Magic Marker Art releases, probably from nearby years. All references show the same abbreviated 'M ... Pgt' form, and Pingitore's signature looks stable across these releases. No era-driven differences are expected or observed.
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.
