Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #28b
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' with a small looped 'k'-like follow-on, a gap, then a large looped 'P' running into a compressed 'g/t' ending with a crossbar. The first initial is roughly the same height as the P group. | R1, R3, R5 and R8 show the same two-group 'Mk' + 'Pgt' structure with similar relative heights. R2 and R4 match in a more compressed form. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Right-leaning slant with a slightly rising baseline across the P group (judged in the rotated crop). It is written vertically along the left edge of the card. | References are written horizontally with a moderate right slant and a gently rising or level baseline (R1, R5, R8). | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is three sharp peaks made in one continuous zigzag. The P is formed with an upstroke and a loop at the top, then descends into a cramped g/t cluster. | Same sharp-peaked M in R1, R3, R5, R6 and R8. The same looped-top P in R1, R2, R3 and R5. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The M connects into its trailing loop without a lift. There is a pen lift between the first-name and surname groups, and the surname group is connected. | The same lift between groups and connected surname cluster appear in R1, R2, R3, R5 and R8. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a quick entry upstroke into the M. The terminal t-crossbar is a short, fast horizontal flick. | The references begin similarly. The terminal crossbar varies in length: very long in R1, short in R3 and R5. Ours sits at the shorter end of that range. | Natural variation |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes with tapered ends at this resolution. No visible tremor, patching or blunt stops. | References show similarly fast, fluent line quality. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Medium-bold blue marker with modest density variation, slightly heavier on downstrokes. | Comparable marker weight in R1, R3 and R5 (blue) and R8 (green). | Match |
| Spacing | A clear gap between the M group and the P group. The surname letters are tightly packed. | Same spacing habit across the references. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline or paraph. The only flourish is the t-crossbar. | None of the references use an underline. The crossbar is the only extended stroke. | Match |
| Placement and size | Vertical along the lower-left of the sticker, over the blue background and into the pink floor area, and not over the character art. The signature is about one-third of the card height. | References are generally horizontal and placed in open background areas. Vertical orientation is not shown in the references, but artist autographs on stickers are commonly placed wherever space allows. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | No halftone or dot pattern visible. Ink appears to sit on the surface, with edge variation consistent with marker. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is from the 2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition. R2–R5 and R8 come from the same open-edition sticker series, and R1 and R6 are related Magic Marker Art products from roughly the same period, so the references are essentially contemporaneous with ours. R7 (JSA print) is undated but shows the same abbreviated form. No era-driven evolution needs to be explained. Pingitore's artist signature in this period is a fast, abbreviated 'Mk Pgt'-type monogram.
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.
