Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #8b
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 'k', a gap, then a large looped 'P' running into a 'gt' with a long horizontal finishing stroke. The first-name group and surname group are of similar width. | R1–R8 all show the same abbreviated 'Mk / Pgt' structure. The tall zigzag M-k comes first, then a P with an open bowl, then a 't' finished by a long horizontal crossbar. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed rotated about 90° along the card's left edge. Relative to the writing direction it shows a moderate rightward slant on a roughly level baseline. | Moderate rightward slant with a level-to-slightly-rising baseline (R1, R2, R4, R8). | Match |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is built as sharp zigzag strokes resembling a 'W/N', followed by a compact 'k/h' form. The 'P' has a tall stem with a bowl formed in one motion, and the 't' is reduced to a crossbar. | The same zigzag M and compact second letter appear in R2, R3, R4 and R8. The P with a single-motion bowl appears in R1–R4 and R7. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The M and k are joined. There is a pen lift between the first-name and surname groups. P to 'gt' appears joined through the bowl return. | There is consistently a lift between the two groups and connected letters within each group (R2, R3, R8). | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a quick upstroke into the M. Ends with an extended horizontal stroke that appears to taper. | The long trailing horizontal on the 't' is a hallmark seen in R2, R4 and R8. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes appear fluid and confident with no visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. The image is small, so fine detail is limited. | Fast, fluid execution throughout the references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Ink density in the blue marker varies, with darker pooled areas at turns. This is consistent with live marker, but it cannot be confirmed from the photo. | Paint-pen references show uniform opaque lines, as expected for paint pen on plastic. The card references (R3, R5, R6) show varying density. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | A moderate gap separates the 'Mk' and 'Pgt' groups. | A similar gap appears in R1, R3, R4 and R7. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended crossbar serves as the terminal flourish. | No underlines. Extended crossbar terminal. | Match |
| Placement and size | Placed sideways along the lower-left image area, over the bird and grass, in blue marker. It is sized appropriately for a standard card. | Placement varies by item. The card references (R3, R5, R6) sit over artwork in black or blue ink. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | No halftone or dot pattern is visible at this resolution. The ink appears to sit over the printed art, and its density is non-uniform. | Not applicable. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our signature is on a 2021 Nintendopes open-edition sticker (copyright Mark Pingitore / Magic Marker Art, LLC), so it was likely signed in 2021 or later. References span about 2015 (R3 and R6, GPK 2015 cards) to roughly 2020s Funko Pop signings (R1, R2, R7, R8) and 8x10 and Horrible Kids items (R4, R5). The abbreviated 'Mk Pgt' form is stable across this whole span, so no era-driven change needs explaining. The main surface and pen differences are paint pen on Funko plastic versus marker or ballpoint 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.
