Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #32b
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 scrawl. An angular zigzag 'M' group is followed by a tall looped 'P' and a short 'gt'-like terminal with a long crossbar. The P is the tallest element. | R1–R8 all show the same abbreviated structure: zigzag M cluster, a gap, a tall P loop, then a trailing terminal with a horizontal crossbar. The P is consistently dominant. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Mild right slant with a roughly level baseline along the signature axis. The signature is rotated about 90° on the card but reads level once rotated. | R2, R4, R7 and R8 show a similar mild right slant and level-to-slightly-rising baseline. R1 is flatter and more elongated. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The M is built as two or three sharp down-up peaks with a separate right element, resembling 'Nl'. The P has a downstroke with a large closed bowl that swings right into the terminal. | Same M construction in R1, R2, R4, R6 and R7 ('Nl'/'W'-like peaks). The P bowl construction matches R2, R5 and R7. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | Pen lift between the M cluster and the P. The P connects continuously into the terminal letters. | Same lift-then-continuous pattern in R1, R2, R3, R7 and R8. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a quick entry stroke into the first M peak. Ends with a long horizontal crossbar extending right that tapers. | The long terminal crossbar is a hallmark across R1 (very extended), R2, R4, R6 and R7. Entry strokes are similarly abrupt-but-fluid. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, fast strokes with no visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. Taper on the terminal suggests speed. | References show the same rapid marker execution. R1 is the cleanest and fastest example. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Marker density varies, heavier in the M peaks and P downstroke and lighter on the terminal, with some skipping over textured print. | Similar variable density in R4, R5 and R8, where the marker is on busy printed backgrounds. | Match |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the M group and the P. The terminal is compressed against the P. | Comparable spacing in R2, R3 and R7. R1 is more stretched, which is consistent with a larger dedicated signing area. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The only flourish is the extended crossbar. | No underlines in any reference. The crossbar is the only flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically along the left edge over the artwork, in dark blue/black marker, moderately sized relative to the card. | Reference crops do not show card placement, so orientation cannot be compared. Ink colors vary (blue, black/dark blue), which is consistent with an artist using various markers on open-edition stickers. | Not assessable |
| Reproduction indicators | Ink appears to sit on top of the printed art with uneven density. No halftone dot pattern is discernible in the signature strokes at this resolution. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our item is a 2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition artist auto (No. 32b, Sam Urai). R2–R8 are artist autos from the same Nintendopes open-edition run, so they are effectively the same era, product and surface type. R1 is a Magic Marker Art Horrorible Kids Series 9 artist autograph card from the same artist-produced line and a broadly contemporary period. No era-driven drift is 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.
