Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Topps Garbage Pail Kids: Kids at Play - Smokin' Joe Auto · #100a
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 | Large, open 'Smokin Joe' in a single line. The 'S' is oversized with a long leftward lead-in, 'mokin' is compressed and lower, and 'Joe' is slightly separated. | R1 and R3 show the same structure: an oversized looping S, compressed 'mokin', and a separated 'Joe' of similar relative scale. R2 is similar but cramped by the panel. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Moderate right slant with a slight rise across 'mokin' and a fairly level 'Joe'. | R1 shows a similar right slant and gently rising baseline. R3 is slightly more upright, and R2 runs along the panel edge. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The S is built from a sweeping lower lead-in stroke into a tall loop. 'm' and 'n' are rounded arches, and 'k' is a compact loop. 'J' has a top crossbar and a descending hook, and 'oe' is small and connected. | R1 shows the same S construction, arcade m/n, J with crossbar and lower hook, and small 'oe'. R3's S and J are built the same way. | Match |
| I-dot / apostrophe | No distinct dot or apostrophe is visible over the 'i'. The i appears absorbed into the 'kin' stroke. | R1, R2 and R3 each show an apostrophe or dot stroke after 'Smokin'. | Natural variation |
| Connecting strokes | 'Smokin' is written as essentially one continuous movement, with a lift before 'Joe'. | Same pattern in R1 and R3: 'Smokin' is connected and 'Joe' begins with a new stroke. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The S begins with a long, tapered leftward lead-in. The final 'e' ends in a short tapered exit. | R1 has the same long tapered S entry and light 'e' terminal. R3 is comparable. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluent and confident, with tapered entries and exits. No visible tremor, hesitation or blunt stops at this resolution. | R1 and R3 show comparable fluent, rapid line quality. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on downstrokes in the S and J, lighter on connectors. Slight ink density variation is visible. | R1 shows similar pressure variation. R3 is somewhat heavier overall, consistent with a different surface. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | 'mokin' letters are tight, with a moderate gap before 'Joe'. | Matches R1. R3 has a slightly wider gap, and R2's spacing is constrained by the panel. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The only flourish is the S lead-in and J crossbar. | No underlines in any reference, with the same S and J flourishes. | Match |
| Placement and size | Lower left over the artwork, above the nameplate, crossing the pink feet area. Roughly half the card width. | R1 is placed in the same area over the pink feet on the same artwork. R3 is on the nameplate panel of a different card design. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | No halftone or dot pattern is visible in the ink at this resolution. Ink density shows natural variation, and the strokes are not identical to R1, so this is not a duplicated image. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is from 2024 Topps Garbage Pail Kids: Kids at Play, so the signature is presumably from 2024–2025. R1 is a Kids at Play Smokin' Joe auto from the same product and appears to share the same yellow wind-up toy artwork; its pink feet match ours. R3 is from the same set (Lawn Dot). R2 is an undated, unauthenticated crop that appears contemporary. All references fall in the same narrow era, so career drift is not a factor. Remaining differences are attributable to surface (glossy art versus a colored nameplate panel) and signing speed.
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.
