Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #11a
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 'Mk Pgt': a tall angular M-k group, then a larger P with a looped bowl, a compact 'g', and a long low 't' cross. | Same abbreviated two-group structure in R1–R6 and R8. R7 shows the same structure written vertically. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Strong right slant on the M and k uprights. The baseline rises slightly left to right, and the t-cross trails off flat. | Same right slant and slightly rising baseline in R1, R3, R5 and R6. The paint-pen examples (R2, R4) are slightly more upright. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | M is built as a quick zigzag with a sharp, pointed apex. The k is reduced to an upright plus a small loop or kick. P is a single upstroke into a wide looping bowl. 'g' and 't' are compressed. | Same zigzag M, reduced k, and wide-bowled P in R1, R3, R5 and R6. In R2 and R4 the P bowl is open and enlarged, a paint-pen variant. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | M connects into k without a lift. There is a lift between the k and the P. The P bowl connects into the g/t. | Same lift pattern between the two letter groups in all clear references. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a low hooked lead-in to the M. Ends with an extended, tapering horizontal t-cross flicked to the right. | Same hooked lead-in in R1, R3 and R5, and the same long tapering t-cross terminal in R1, R2, R3, R5 and R8. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes with tapered ends. There is no visible tremor or blunting at this resolution. | Rapid, fluid execution throughout. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on the downstrokes of M, k and the P stem, lighter on the bowl and the t-cross taper. Ink density varies. | Similar heavy-downstroke, light-terminal pattern in R5 and R6. This is hard to assess in the paint-pen examples. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between 'Mk' and 'Pgt'. The second group is wider. | Same spacing relationship in R1, R3, R5 and R8. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended t-cross acts as the only flourish. | No underlines in any reference. The t-cross extension is the consistent flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically along the left margin of the artwork in blue marker, reading bottom to top, and moderately sized. | R7 shows the same vertical left-side placement on an artist card in blue ink. Card signatures R5, R6 and R8 are similarly scaled. | Match |
| Reproduction indicators | No halftone or dot pattern is visible in the crop. Ink density is not uniform. Placement varies relative to the art and is not integrated into the printed design. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2021 Nintendopes open-edition sticker. It is an artist-produced release ('© Mark Pingitore - Magic Marker Art, LLC'), so the signature likely dates to 2021 or later. The card references (R5, R6, R8) are 2014–2015 Garbage Pail Kids autographs. R7 is an undated Horrorible Kids card, probably 2017 or later. The Funko Pop references (R1–R4) are probably 2017 or later and are signed in yellow paint marker on curved plastic. Across this span the abbreviated 'Mk Pgt' form stays stable. Differences in stroke width and letter openness are explained by marker type (fine marker versus paint pen) and surface (card versus window box) rather than by era.
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.
