Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #3a
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 short k-like rise, a small gap, then a tall 'P' with a closed bowl, followed by a compressed 'gt' and a long rightward finishing stroke. | R1, R2, R4, R5 and R6 all show the same 'Mk' zigzag plus 'P' bowl plus abbreviated 'gt/t' structure. The second element is roughly equal to or slightly larger than the first. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the green pipe. Once rotated, the strokes show a moderate rightward slant and a gently rising baseline. | Moderate right slant with a slightly rising or level baseline (R1, R5, R2, R4). | Match |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is built from sharp peaks with a downstroke into the 'k'. The 'P' has a tall stem and a bowl that sweeps right into the trailing letters. | Same sharp-peaked 'M'/'Mk' and looped 'P' in R1, R5 and R6. R4 and R7 show the more open 'Mh Pyt' variant. | Natural variation |
| Connecting strokes | 'M' runs continuously into 'k'. 'P' connects into 'gt'. There is one lift between first and last name. | Same two-unit pattern with a lift between names in every legible reference. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Quick entry into the 'M'. The finish is an extended horizontal t-cross/terminal stroke that appears to taper. | Long horizontal terminal t-cross is a consistent feature in R2, R4, R5, R6 and R7. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes with no visible tremor or patching at this resolution. Curves are smooth. | Fast, fluid execution across all references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Some variation in ink density along the strokes, with heavier spots at turns. This is consistent with a fine-tip marker. | Pressure variation is visible in the Sharpie references (R1, R3, R5). The paint-marker references (R2, R4, R6, R7) are more uniform, as that medium would be. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Compact, with a modest gap between 'Mk' and 'P'. | Similar compact spacing. The wider gaps on the Funko boxes reflect larger signing areas. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The only flourish is the extended terminal stroke. | No underlines in any reference. The terminal stroke is the habitual flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Hand-placed vertically across the artwork on the pipe, mid-left of the card, sized to fit the clear area. | Placement varies by item. R8 is also signed vertically on a card, which supports vertical card placement as a habit. | Match |
| Reproduction indicators | Blue ink appears to sit on top of the printed art and overlaps the image. No obvious halftone dots or uniform facsimile density are visible at this resolution. | Not applicable. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Ours is on a 2021 Nintendopes open-edition sticker, so it was signed 2021 or later, likely in the early 2020s. R1 is dated 9/15 (2015). The Funko Pop references (R2, R4, R6, R7) and the Horrible Kids cards (R3, R8) are likely from about 2020 onward, so they overlap our era. Pingitore's abbreviated 'Mk Pgt' form looks stable from 2015 through the 2020s. Differences among references track surface and pen (paint marker on vinyl boxes, Sharpie on paper or foil, fine marker on cards) rather than era.
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.
