Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Magic Marker Art Slop Culture Kids Sticker - Auto · #59b
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 compressed zigzag 'M' fused with a 'k/h' form, a gap, then a tall 'P' with a top loop flowing into an abbreviated 'gt' and ending in a long horizontal crossbar. | Every reference shows the same abbreviated 'Mk P...t' structure. The first initial cluster is roughly the same height as the P cluster, and the right side is dominated by a long t-crossbar (R3, R5, R7, R8 closest). | Match |
| Slant and baseline | The card was signed sideways, along the right side of the figure. Relative to the signature's own axis it is upright to slightly right-leaning with a fairly level baseline. The crossbar rises slightly. | Upright to mild right slant with a level or slightly rising baseline (R3, R7, R8). The Funko examples rise more steeply, as expected on a curved window. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is a sharp zigzag of angular peaks. The 'k/h' is a short upstroke with a retrace and kick. The 'P' is a strong downstroke with a loop at the top, followed by a descending tail. | Same angular zigzag M and kicked k/h (R3, R5, R8). The P is built as a downstroke plus top loop in all of them, with the descending tail clearest in R2, R6 and R8. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | M and k are joined in one movement. There is a lift before the P. P flows into the gt and crossbar. | Same lift pattern: M-k joined, lift, then P and the terminal letters in continuous movement (R3, R7, R8). | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The M starts with a short entry stroke. The signature ends in a long, tapered horizontal crossbar extending past the letter body. | A long extended terminal crossbar is a consistent hallmark (R3, R4, R6, R7, R8). | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes with angular turns made without hesitation. Terminals appear tapered at this resolution. No visible tremor or patching. | Rapid, fluid execution in all references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Broad black marker line with some width variation on the downstrokes. Ink density looks fairly even, which is typical of a felt marker. | Marker and paint-pen references show similar fairly even density. The ballpoint/fine-tip references (R3, R8) show more taper. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | A clear gap between the initial cluster and the P cluster. The P cluster is compact before the crossbar. | The same gap between the Mk and P clusters appears consistently. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended crossbar is the only flourish. | No underlines. The crossbar is the only flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically on the image area over the character's right side, sized to fit the card's height. This is a natural spot for an artist signing his own sticker. | References are signed across available open space on cards and box windows, sized to the surface. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | In the scan the ink appears to sit over the printed halftone, with no dot pattern inside the strokes. Live ink cannot be confirmed from the image. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Ours is on a 2024 Magic Marker Art (Pingitore's own company) Slop Culture Kids sticker, so it is a recent-era signature. R3 (dated 9/15) and R8 (2015 Topps GPK Series 1 artist autograph card) are 2015-era. R5 and R7 are undated, likely mid-2010s to early 2020s. R1, R2, R4 and R6 are paint-pen signatures on Funko Pop windows, likely 2020s. The signature's structure is stable across the whole span. Differences in stroke width and roundness are explained by surface (paint pen on acetate vs. marker on a glossy sticker) and pen, not 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.
