Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #34a
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 angular 'M' zigzag followed by a 'P' form and a terminal crossed 't' with a long trailing horizontal bar. The 'P' portion is roughly the same height as the 'M'. | R1, R2, R7 and R5 show the same two-unit structure: angular 'M' zigzag, gap, then a 'P'-led group ending in a long horizontal cross. R3, R4, R6 and R8 are more compressed or abbreviated versions of the same scheme. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Strong rightward slant on the 'M' uprights; baseline roughly level to slightly rising. The terminal bar runs nearly horizontal. | R1, R2 and R7 show the same pronounced right slant and level-to-rising baseline. R6 rises more steeply, consistent with a quick signature on a curved art area. | Match |
| Letter construction | 'M' is made as a tall left upstroke, sharp downstroke and a rising zigzag with a short tail. 'P' is a tall stem with a small upper bowl that flows into a low looped 't'-like form. | Identical 'M' zigzag construction in R1, R2, R3, R4 and R7. 'P' stem with small bowl and descending loop matches R1, R2 and R7 closely. R8 shows a looser, rounded variant. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | 'M' is executed in one connected stroke. A pen lift separates it from the 'P' group, and the 'P' connects into the trailing terminal form. | Same lift between the 'M' and 'P' units in all references, with continuous connection within each unit. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Tapered entry at the base of the 'M'. The ending is a long, fast horizontal bar that thins toward the right with no blunt stop. | R1 and R7 show the identical long tapered terminal bar. R2 and R5 show a shorter version. The tapered entries match across the set. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident lines with smooth curves and tapering. No visible tremor, hesitation or patching at this resolution. | All references show rapid, fluent marker execution. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Darker, heavier ink in the 'M' and the 'P' stem, with lighter, thinner travel in the terminal bar. Overlaps show darker ink density. | A similar heavy-to-light pattern is visible in R1, R7 and R8; the overlap darkening in R8 is comparable. | Match |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the 'M' and 'P' units; the terminal bar extends well past the last letter. | Comparable spacing in R1, R2 and R7. R3 and R4 are tighter, which is natural variation. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The trailing horizontal cross-bar serves as the only flourish. | Same trailing bar flourish in R1, R7 and R8; no underlines in any reference. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically along the left edge of the artwork, over the red background and the Pokeball burst, in blue marker. The size is proportionate to the sticker. | References are placed over the artwork in varied positions and orientations with similar relative size. Artist autos on these stickers are not in a fixed location, so non-uniform placement argues against facsimile. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | No halftone or dot pattern is visible in the crop. Ink appears to sit on top of the printed artwork, with varying density. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition artist auto (No. 34a). Six references (R2–R7) come from the same Nintendopes Open Edition release, and R1 and R8 are contemporaneous Magic Marker Art products (Horrorible Kids Series 9, Slop Culture Kids). All are likely the same early-2020s signing era, so era-driven drift should be minimal. Differences seen are attributable to surface (glossy sticker vs. card stock), marker type and signing speed.
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.
