Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #20b
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 trailing form, then a 'P' followed by a compressed scribble ending in a 't'-like form with a long horizontal crossbar. | R1–R8 all show the same abbreviated structure: zigzag 'M' plus small trailing letters, a gap, then 'P' or 'Pi', a compressed middle and a 't' with an extended crossbar. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Roughly level baseline relative to the writing direction, mild forward slant, with the 'P' stem rising above the rest. The signature is written along the card's long axis. | Level to slightly rising baselines with mild forward slant. The tall 'P' stem appears in R1, R2, R5, R7 and R8. | Match |
| Letter construction | 'M' built as a fast down-up-down zigzag, the first stroke with a slight hook. 'P' made with a single stem and an open, forward-thrown bowl that runs into the following letters. | Same zigzag 'M' (most clearly R1, R4, R7, R8) and the same open, thrown 'P' bowl (R1, R2, R5, R7). | Match |
| Connecting strokes | 'M' block connected internally. Clear lift before the 'P'. 'P' bowl flows into the middle scribble and the 't'. | Same lift between the 'M' group and the 'P' group in R1–R8, with connected flow from the 'P' into the terminal letters. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Tapered entry on the 'M'. Ends with a long, tapering horizontal 't' crossbar that extends right. | Long terminal crossbar seen in R1, R2, R5, R7 and R8. R4 shows a shorter, more truncated finish, consistent with signing variation. | Natural variation |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes with tapered ends. No visible tremor, hesitation or blunt stops at this resolution. | Fast, fluent marker strokes throughout R1–R8. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on downstrokes of the 'M' and the 'P' stem, lighter on the crossbar taper. Some ink density variation. | Similar heavy-down, light-taper pattern in the references. Density varies with the sticker surface (R6 and R8 appear lighter or skipping). | Match |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the 'M' group and the 'P' group. Compressed middle. | Same spacing rhythm across R1–R8. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline or paraph beyond the extended crossbar. | No underlines in any reference. The extended crossbar is the only flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically along the left side of the sticker face, over the artwork. Large relative to the card. Dark blue or black marker. | Reference crops do not show placement on the card. Ink colors are blue or black marker, which matches ours. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our signature is on a 2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition artist auto (No. 20b, Yo Gus). R2–R8 come from the same Nintendopes Open Edition release, so they share its era, surface and likely signing sessions. R1 (Magic Marker Art Horrorible Kids Series 9, 01/10) is a closely related Mark Pingitore self-produced release of similar vintage. No meaningful era drift is expected across this set.
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.
