Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #32a
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 sits left, then a separated 'P' with an extended low trailing stroke. The second group is noticeably longer than the first. | All of R1–R8 show the same two-group abbreviated form: angular M cluster, gap, P with a long trailing tail. R1 is the cleanest example and shows the same proportions. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Strong rightward slant on the M uprights. The baseline runs roughly level along the card's long axis, since the signature is placed vertically. | R1, R3, R4, R5 and R8 show similar right slant on the M strokes with a level-to-slightly-rising baseline. | Match |
| Letter construction | The M is built from rapid diagonal zigzag strokes with no rounded humps. The P has a tall stem with a bowl, and a horizontal run with a small terminal hook or loop follows. | The M is a zigzag in every reference (clearest in R1, R3, R4, R8). The P stem-and-bowl leading into a horizontal 't/o'-like tail appears in R1, R2, R5 and R8. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | M and P are separate with a pen lift between groups. Within each group the strokes are continuous. | The same lift between M and P groups appears throughout R1–R8. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts appear tapered or flicked rather than blunt. The terminal stroke extends right and ends in a small hook. | R1 and R5 show the same flicked entry on the M and an extended terminal tail with a small finishing curl. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes look fluid and fast, with no visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | All references show quick, confident marker strokes. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Ink density varies, heavier in the M uprights and lighter in the transitions, consistent with a felt-tip marker. The image resolution limits detail. | Similar marker pressure variation appears in R1, R3, R5 and R7. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | There is a moderate gap between the M cluster and the P, and the P group is somewhat compressed in the crop. | Gap width varies from tight (R6, R7) to wider (R1). Ours falls within that range. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended terminal stroke serves as the only flourish. | No underlines appear in any reference, and the terminal tail is the habitual flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Blue marker, placed vertically along the left border over the artwork and spanning roughly a third of the card height. | The references are crops, so orientation and placement cannot be judged. Blue ink matches R1, R5 and R8, and dark ink appears in the others. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is from the 2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition artist-auto run and was likely signed around 2021–2022. R2–R8 come from the same set, so same era, same card stock and similar markers. R1 (Horrorible Kids Series 9, Magic Marker Art) is a close-in-time Pingitore project. No meaningful era gap exists, so career drift is not a factor.
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.
