Autograph Authentication Report
2021 Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #2b
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: a wide angular 'M' / 'Mk' zigzag, then a 'P'-led group ending in a looped or crossed 't'. | R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 all show the same two-part abbreviated form: zigzag 'Mk/Nk' and then 'Pgt'. R8 shows the same form written vertically. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Strong rightward slant on the M peaks. Baseline rises slightly, and the signature runs along the card's left edge. | Rightward-leaning, steep diagonal strokes with a slightly rising baseline in R2-R6. R8 is also written along the long edge. | Match |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is built from sharp diagonal up-down strokes with pointed apexes. The 'P' has a tall stem and a bowl, followed by a compressed 'gt' with a crossing stroke. | Same sharp-apex zigzag M in R1-R6. The P stem and bowl with a compressed tail and t-cross is seen in R2, R3, R5 and R6. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The M strokes are continuous. There is a separate lift before the P group. | References show the same break between the M group and the P group. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Tapered entry on the first M stroke. The end shows a loop or cross at the 't'. | Tapered entries and a looping or crossing terminal on the 't' in R2, R3, R5 and R6. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Appears fluid and fast, with no visible tremor or blunt stops at this resolution. | Fast, confident strokes throughout the references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Ink density varies somewhat along the strokes. Heavier ink sits where strokes cross. | Pressure varies within paint-pen and marker references (R2, R3, R5). Fine-tip references (R4, R6) are more even. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Compact. The P group sits close to the M. | Spacing varies with available space. R6 and R4 are compact, and the Funko examples are wider. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. Only a small terminal loop. | No underlines in the references either. | Match |
| Placement and size | Blue ink, vertical along the left border over the artwork, moderate size. | R8 (same set, Crown slab) is blue ink and vertical along the edge. R7 is also vertical. | Match |
| Reproduction indicators | Ink appears to sit over the printed art. No halftone pattern is visible at this resolution. | Not applicable. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Ours is on a 2021 Nintendopes Open Edition sticker, so it was likely signed 2021 or later. The references run from about 2015 (R4, GPK 2015 Series 1) through the 2020s (Horrible Kids cards, Funko Pops, the Nintendopes sticker in R8). Across that span the abbreviated signature stays stable: an angular zigzag 'M' followed by a 'P' and a trailing 'gt'. No era-driven change is evident.
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.
