Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #4a
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 'M(k) P(g)t': an angular M with a following looped k/h, a gap, then a large-bowled P, a compact middle letter and a t with a long crossbar. | R1–R5 show the same 'Mh/Mk Pyt' abbreviation. R7 and R8 show the same compact two-part form written vertically. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Mild forward lean on uprights. The baseline rises slightly toward the t. | R6–R8 lean somewhat more. Measured slant is within normal range. Web references show similarly rising baselines. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | M is built from sharp zigzag peaks. P is a single upstroke with a broad open bowl swinging right. t has a long sweeping cross. | Same zigzag M and broad P bowl in R2, R3 and R5. The t crossbar matches R2 and R5. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | M connects into k/h. There is a pen lift before P. The P connects into the following letters. | Same two-unit grouping in R2, R4, R5, R7 and R8. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Entry on the M is from a low-left lead-in. The t crossbar ends with a tapering exit. | Similar lead-in and tapered t finish in R2, R3 and R5. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes look fluid with some width variation. No obvious tremor or blunt stops at this resolution. | Fast, fluid strokes in all references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on downstrokes of the M and P, lighter on connectors. | Similar emphasis visible in R4, R7 and R8. Paint-marker references (R1–R5) are hard to read for pressure. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Clear gap between the M-group and the P-group. | Same gap in R2, R4 and R5. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended t crossbar is the only flourish. | No underlines in the references. The extended t crossbar is the same. | Match |
| Placement and size | Vertical along the left side of the artwork, over the pink/green background. | R7 and R8 are signed vertically along the left side in the same set, at a similar size. | Match |
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 | -6.3° | -12.8–-10.2° | In range | |
| Overall writing angle | 1.5° | -89.0–87.9° | In range | |
| Height to width | 0.349 | 0.23–0.276 | Edge of range | |
| Ink travel per unit width | 3.83× | 2.02–2.55× | Outside range | |
| Stroke thickness variation | 0.513 | 0.362–0.417 | Edge of range | |
| Closed loops | 14 | 1.0–2.0 | Outside range | |
| Separate strokes | 14 | 2.0–4.0 | Outside range |
The two measurements used for the call both sit in the artist's normal range: the lean of the upright strokes and the overall writing angle. The shape ratio (height to width) is somewhat taller than usual, which deserves a look but is not alarming. The flagged numbers (loop count, stroke count, ink travel) all depend heavily on photo conditions. Here the signature runs over a colorful, busy background that likely broke the trace into many false pieces. On balance the reliable measurements support the visual match, and the flagged ones point to a re-measurement rather than a problem with the signature.
Examiner notes
Ours is on a 2021 Nintendopes Open Edition artist sticker. R7 and R8 are the same 2021 set, slabbed with near-consecutive Crown certs (000035431 and 000035432 vs ours 000035427), so they are probably the same signing period and possibly the same submission. R1–R3 and R5 (Funko Pops) look 2020s-era. R4 (2015 GPK Series 1) is the earliest. The 'Mk/Mh P–gt' abbreviated form is stable across all of them, so there is no era-driven change to explain.
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.
