Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #25a
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 signature: a compact angular 'M' run into a short 'l/c' form, a gap, then a tall looped 'P', compressed 'g/t' forms, and a long trailing horizontal. The first-name block is noticeably smaller than the surname block. | R1, R2, R3, R7 show the same two-block structure: an angular M-cluster, then a taller P-group ending in a long horizontal. R4, R5, R6 are more compressed. R8 is the most abbreviated. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Moderate right slant. Baseline rises slightly through the surname and flattens into the terminal stroke. | R1, R2, R7 show a similar right slant with a slightly rising surname. R3 and R4 are flatter. | Match |
| Letter construction | 'M' built as a rapid zigzag with a sharp descending point, followed by a small connected loop. 'P' is a tall upstroke with an open bowl. The trailing letters reduce to a loop and a cross-stroke. | R1 and R2 show near-identical M zigzag and P construction. R5 and R6 show the same pattern, slightly more abbreviated. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | First-name forms are connected in one movement. There is a lift between the given name and the surname. The surname runs mostly connected into the terminal. | Same lift position and connection pattern in R1, R2, R3, R7. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a light lead-in on the M. Ends in a long, tapering horizontal stroke extending well right. | R1, R2, R7 all end in a long tapered horizontal. R4 and R6 have shorter terminals. Lead-ins are similar. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes. Visible tapering at the terminals. No apparent tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | All references show fast, fluid marker strokes. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on the downstrokes of M and P, lighter on connectors, and thinning on the final horizontal. Typical of a felt or paint marker. | Comparable pressure variation in R1, R2, R7. R8 shows heavier, more variable ink deposit, likely a different pen or surface. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Clear gap between the first-name block and the surname block. Surname letters are tightly spaced. | Same spacing relationship across R1–R7. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No separate underline. The extended terminal of the final letter serves as the flourish. | Same extended terminal flourish. No underline in any reference. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically along the left side of the artwork in blue marker, overlapping the red background and the figure's arm. Moderately large relative to the sticker. | Placement on the item is not visible in the reference crops. They show signatures over artwork backgrounds, consistent with signing across printed art. | Not assessable |
| Ink color and medium | Blue marker, with ink visibly sitting over the printed red and skin-tone art. | R1, R3, R7, R8 are blue. R2, R4, R5, R6 are black or dark. The artist uses multiple pen colors. | Natural variation |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2021 Nintendopes sticker, signed as an artist auto, likely around release (2021–2022). R2–R7 are from the same Nintendopes Open Edition run and appear to be the same era. R1 (Horrorible Kids Series 9) and R8 (Slop Culture Kids) come from nearby Magic Marker Art releases, likely within a few years. No meaningful era gap is expected. Differences across the references track surface, ink and signing speed rather than evolution over a career.
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.
