Autograph Authentication Report
2019 Topps Garbage Pail Kids: We Hate the '90s - Smokin' Joe Auto (25/25) · #ø
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 | Two-word 'Smokin' Joe'. A dominant oversized S, compact lowercase 'mokin'', and a large J leading into a smaller 'oe'. Roughly 4:1 width-to-height. | R1–R4 show the same layout. Large S, small connected 'mokin', large looping J, small 'oe'. R4 is stacked vertically because of space limits. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Moderate right slant. The baseline is roughly level with a slight rise through 'mokin''. | R1–R3 show a similar right slant and a level-to-slightly-rising baseline. R2 is a little more upright. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The S is formed as an angular hook/zig-zag with a long trailing lower stroke. 'k' has a raised looped upper. 'i' is shown with a dot or tick. The J has a large top cap and a left-sweeping lower loop. The 'e' is open. | R1–R3 show the same angular, hooked S and a similar 'k' formation. The J has a top cap and lower loop in all four references (most clearly R2 and R4). The open 'e' appears in R1, R3 and R4. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | 'mokin' is written largely connected. There is a lift before the apostrophe and another between the words. | Same pattern in R1–R3: connected 'mokin', a lift for the apostrophe, a separate J. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The S begins with a tapered entry. 'Joe' ends with an extended rightward terminal stroke that tapers. | R1 and R3 show tapered S entries and an extended final 'e' stroke. R2 ends more abruptly. | Natural variation |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident marker lines with tapering. No visible tremor, hesitation or blunt stops at this resolution. | All references show fast, fluid execution. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Some density variation, darker at stroke overlaps and turns, consistent with a felt-tip marker. | Similar marker density variation in R1, R3 and R4. | Match |
| Spacing | Tight letter spacing within words and a clear gap between 'Smokin'' and 'Joe'. | Comparable in R1–R3. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The flourish is limited to the extended final stroke. | No underline in any reference. Similar terminal extension. | Match |
| Placement and size | Inside the printed autograph box ('SMOKIN' JOE ARTIST AUTOGRAPH'). It fills most of the box width and slightly overruns the box edges. | The reference crops show signatures over the artwork area of their respective cards. Box-style placement is normal for Topps GPK artist autos. | Natural variation |
Examiner notes
Our card is from the 2019 Topps Garbage Pail Kids: We Hate the '90s release. The four references come from Topps GPK artist-autograph issues: Kids at Play, Book Worms and the Roxanne Toser Tribute. These most likely date from about 2019–2021, the same general era as ours. All five are signed in blue marker on glossy or coated card stock. Within this narrow window no meaningful career evolution is expected, so small differences most likely reflect signing speed and surface.
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.
