Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #37a
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: an angular zigzag 'M' unit, a gap, then a large looped 'P' running into a compressed scrawl that ends in a 't'-like crossing. The 'P' unit is taller than the 'M' unit. | R1–R8 all show the same two-part abbreviation: a zigzag/'N'-like 'M', a separate looped 'P' with a short 'gt' scrawl, and a long t-crossbar. Proportions are similar, with the 'P' unit dominant. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the left edge of the card, so it reads rotated about 90°. Relative to its own baseline it has a moderate rightward slant and a slightly rising baseline. | Slant is moderately rightward with a level-to-rising baseline (R1, R4, R6, R8). Orientation on the card cannot be determined from the crops. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | 'M' is made as a sharp angular down-up-down zigzag with a short trailing hook. 'P' has a tall stem and an open bowl. It is followed by compressed letter-forms with a crossing stroke. | Same construction. The angular 'M' zigzag (clearest in R1, R3, R4) and the 'P' stem-and-bowl with a trailing 'gt' (R1, R2, R7, R8) recur consistently. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | There is a pen lift between the 'M' unit and the 'P' unit. The 'P' and trailing letters appear to be written in one continuous movement. | All references show the same lift between 'M' and 'P', with continuous writing in the surname portion. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts appear tapered with no visible blunt blob. The terminal crossbar/tail is carried through with a flicked end. | Tapered starts. Most references end with a long, quickly made horizontal crossbar or tail (R1 especially). | Match |
| Line quality and speed | At the available resolution, strokes look fluid and confident with smooth curves. No tremor or hesitation is visible. | Fast, fluid marker strokes throughout. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Blue marker with some density variation along the strokes. The crop is too low-resolution for detailed pressure analysis. | Marker lines show density variation (R1 blue, R2/R4/R5/R7 black or dark marker). | Not assessable |
| Spacing | Clear gap between the initial unit and the surname unit. The surname unit is compressed. | Same spacing habit across R1–R8. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The terminal crossing stroke serves as the only flourish. | No underlines. A long terminal crossbar is the characteristic flourish (strongest in R1). | Natural variation |
| Placement and size | Large vertical signature down the lower-left side over the grass and dirt artwork, running toward the bottom border. It does not interfere with the title box. | Placement cannot be determined from the crops. Signature size relative to the crop frame looks comparable. Artist sketch-card signings are commonly placed freely over the artwork. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition #37a (Embarassed Arthur), the same release as R2–R8. Those references are therefore contemporaneous, and era drift is not a factor. R1 (Magic Marker Art Horrorible Kids Series 9, numbered 01/10) is a sister Pingitore/Magic Marker Art product from roughly the same period and shows the same abbreviated signature form. Across all references the signature is a fast, abbreviated 'M' + 'P' + terminal 't' scrawl with a long horizontal crossbar.
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.
