Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #10a
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 Pt': an angular zigzag M-k, a gap, a tall P with an open bowl, then a long-crossed t. Compact horizontal format. | R1, R2, R3, R5 and R7 show the same abbreviated M-k / P-t structure with similar proportions. R4 and R6 are looser renditions of it. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Near-upright strokes with a slight backward lean. The baseline runs level, along the card's left edge. | Mostly near-upright to slightly back-leaning. Baselines are level to slightly rising. | Match |
| Letter construction | M built as sharp peaked zigzags flowing into a k-like form. P has a tall downstroke and a bowl that opens to the right. The t has an extended crossbar. | R1, R2 and R5 show the same peaked M, the same P with an open bowl, and the same long t-cross. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | M and k are joined. There is a pen lift before the P, and P runs on into a short connector toward the t. | Same lift between first-name and surname groups in R1, R2, R3 and R5. Same P-to-t run-on in R5 and R7. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The M entry is a quick upstroke. The t-crossbar ends with a tapered exit. | Tapered entries and exits throughout, especially on the long t-crosses in R3, R5 and R7. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes. No visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | Rapid, fluent strokes in all references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Marker with modest width variation and some lighter tapers. | Similar marker width variation. The paint-pen Funko examples are heavier, as expected for that pen. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Clear gap between 'Mk' and 'Pt'. | Same gap in R1, R2, R3 and R5. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The long t-cross acts as the terminal flourish. | No underlines. Long t-crosses throughout. | Match |
| Placement and size | Written vertically up the left border area of the card front, moderate size, overlapping the artwork. | R8 is also a vertical signature on a card. R6 overlaps the artwork. The Funko signatures are larger to suit the medium. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | No halftone or dot pattern visible in the crop. Ink sits on the green field as a distinct marker colour (dark teal), different from the printed palette. | n/a | Not assessable |
Measurements
Software traced the ink and measured it against the known examples. The shaded band is the signer's normal range across those examples; the gold marker is this card.
| Feature | This card | Known examples | Normal range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slant of upright strokes | -3.4° | -9.8–-1.4° | In range | |
| Overall writing angle | -1.4° | -83.2–4.5° | In range | |
| Height to width | 0.241 | 0.146–0.265 | In range | |
| Ink travel per unit width | 4.65× | 2.44–5.72× | In range | |
| Stroke thickness variation | 0.532 | 0.436–0.707 | In range | |
| Closed loops | 37 | 5.0–91.0 | In range | |
| Separate strokes | 11 | 5.0–18.0 | In range |
Our computer measured four shape features and three photo-sensitive features of this signature against the three reference signatures it could trace cleanly (R1, R2, R8). On all seven, this signature fell within his normal range: lean of the upright strokes, overall angle, height-to-width ratio, ink travel, stroke thickness variation, closed loops and number of separate strokes. The wide spread in overall writing angle among the references comes from R8 being signed vertically, so that feature carries little weight. The numbers support authenticity but cannot prove it on their own, because the references themselves are unauthenticated.
Examiner notes
Ours is on a 2021 Nintendopes open-edition sticker card, Pingitore's own Magic Marker Art LLC release, so it was likely signed around 2021 or later. R1 is dated 2015. R2–R8 (8x10, Funko Pops, Horrible Kids cards) look like roughly 2015–2023 material. Across that span his signature stays a fast, abbreviated 'Mk Pt' scrawl, so no meaningful era drift is expected or seen.
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.
