Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #9a
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 roughly 'Mk P–t'. A compact angular first-name block is followed by a longer surname block with an extended horizontal cross stroke. | R2, R3, R4, R6, R7 and R8 show the same two-block 'Mk Pgt/Pt' abbreviation. The first block is angular and the second is elongated with a trailing cross. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Strong rightward slant with a slightly rising baseline. It was signed rotated, running vertically along the figure's torso. | Funko examples show a strong right slant and a mildly rising baseline. R8 shows a similar slant on paper. | Match |
| Letter construction: 'M' | Sharp zigzag M made with fast angular peaks, leading straight into a looped 'k/h' form. | The zigzag M with an immediate loop into 'k/h' is present in R2, R3, R4, R6, R7 and R8. | Match |
| Letter construction: 'P' and terminal | Tall P stem with a bowl, followed by low 'g/t' forms and a long crossing stroke at the end. | R2, R3, R4 and R7 show a tall P with an open bowl, low trailing letters and a long horizontal t-cross extending right. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | First block is connected internally. There is a pen lift between the name blocks. | Same lift between blocks in all clear references. Internal connections within each block are similar. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Strokes appear to start and end tapered, with a flicked terminal on the cross stroke. Image resolution limits detail. | Funko examples show tapered entries and a flicked final cross. Paint pen gives blunter ends than marker. | Natural variation |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes. No visible tremor, hesitation or patching at this resolution. | All show fast, fluent execution. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Variable stroke width consistent with a felt marker. Heavier on downstrokes. | Paint-pen references show more uniform width because of the medium. R8 (marker on paper) shows similar width variation. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the M-block and the P-block. Surname block spread out. | Comparable inter-block spacing in R2, R4 and R7. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended t-cross acts as the flourish. | No underlines. The extended t-cross is the habitual flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Placed diagonally/vertically over the artwork on the character's body in blue marker. Moderate size for a sticker card. | Card references (R1, R5, R8) are signed across the artwork. The Funko signatures are larger to suit the box window. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | Ink appears to sit on the surface with natural density variation. No halftone pattern visible. Placement is not a typical printed-facsimile position. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2021 Nintendopes open-edition sticker, an artist-produced parody (© Mark Pingitore – Magic Marker Art LLC), so the signature likely dates from 2021 or later. R5 and R8 appear to be 2015-era GPK signings. R2, R3, R4, R6 and R7 are Funko Pop window boxes (Adam Bomb, Ghastly Ashley), roughly 2021–2023, signed with yellow paint pen on glossy plastic. R1 (Slop Culture Kids card) is probably early 2020s. The abbreviated 'Mk Pgt' form looks stable from 2015 to the present, so era is not a major factor. The main source of variation is surface and pen: paint pen on plastic versus marker on a card.
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.
