Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #9b
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 reading 'Mk Pg(t)'. The M is an angular zigzag run into a small k, followed by a looped capital P and lowercase forms. | Every reference shows the same abbreviated 'Mk Pgt' structure: zigzag M plus k, then a looped P and a t with a long crossbar (R1–R7). R8 shows the same structure written vertically. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Written roughly vertically or diagonally along the gorilla's arm and torso, rising from bottom to top. | Most references are horizontal with a slight right-upward slant. R8 is written vertically on a card in the same rotated orientation as ours. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The M is built from sharp peaks and valleys in one continuous zigzag. The k is a short upstroke with a loop. The P has a tall stem with an upper bowl that flows on. | The sharp zigzag M with an integrated k is consistent across R2, R3, R4 and R7. The tall P stem with an open bowl matches R2, R4 and R6. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | M and k connect without a lift. There is a gap between the 'Mk' and 'Pg' groups. | All references show the same two-group construction, with a lift between first and last initials and connected strokes within each group. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The entry stroke of the M appears tapered. The terminal t and crossbar are partly cut off in the crop and lie in the upper section of the full-slab image. | References show a tapered lead-in and a long, often extended t crossbar (R1, R4, R5, R6). | Natural variation |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid strokes with tapered ends and no visible tremor or blunt stops at this resolution. They look fast and confident. | Fast, fluent strokes throughout. The paint-pen examples show heavier, uniform lines because of the medium. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Blue fine/medium marker with some width variation across the zigzag. Detail is limited by image resolution. | Black marker card examples (R2, R3, R7, R8) show similar modest pressure variation. Paint-pen examples cannot be compared for pressure. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Compact. The letters of each initial group are tightly packed. | Compact on cards (R2, R3, R7, R8). Wider on Funko boxes, where there was more room and a thicker pen. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended t crossbar cannot be fully assessed. | No underlines. The extended crossbar is the main flourish. | Not assessable |
| Placement and size | Over the artwork, vertical, roughly a third of the card's height. Placed like an in-person artist signature, not a printed facsimile position. | R8 and R3 are signed over the artwork on cards at a similar scale and orientation. | Match |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2021 Nintendopes open-edition sticker, so the signature probably dates from 2021 or later. The references look broadly contemporaneous. R2 is a 2015 GPK Series 1 card, but its form matches the later ones. R3 and R8 are Horrorible Kids cards, likely 2020–2022. R1, R4, R5 and R6 are paint-pen signatures on Funko Pop boxes, probably 2020s. R7 is an undated 8x10. Pingitore's abbreviated 'Mk Pgt' form looks stable across this span, so no era-driven differences are expected. The main variables are surface and pen: thick paint pen on box plastic versus fine marker on card stock.
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.
