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Pokémon creators introduced fans to the trading card game DP edition in the year 2007, featuring the Bonsly card. On this artwork, the Gen 4 rock-type is shown by designer Midori Harada in a, shall we say, compromising position. On the card, this pre-evolution is depicted toppled and crying. Don't be fooled, yet. Similar to its attack the move Fake Tears, Bonsly attempts to sway the other player's mood with the goal of decreasing their attack. Memorable card, right? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins is a firm believer. She possesses a binder filled with 305 Bonsly cards to prove it.

The Full Collection with Key Pieces

However, that's not everything she has either. She has acquired 20 reverse foil editions featuring Bonsly, showing the small Pokémon in reflective foil everywhere but the primary illustration. The prized possession, however, proves to be the professionally graded PSA 6 holo reverse of Bonsly. Certainly, it's not a mint-condition original Charizard card. However, can you claim an amusing, close to mint Bonsly illustration preserved in its eternal glory? I didn't think so.

Origins of the Collection

Hopkins has spent most of the current year stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She discovered of this rare card at the start of the year, while talking about the notoriously odd cards among collectors with a staff member at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was considered, as was the forever alone Cubone on a park ride. But it was Bonsly crying, aka card number 17, that grabbed Emily's focus.

Behind Bonsly's Look

Bonsly draws clear inspiration on bonsai trees, that are commonly placed in containers that have drainage holes. These holes are intended to help the plant grow, so much so that fans encourage each other to add holes on the bottom when none are present. Bonsai can also be placed in shallow containers lacking drainage, called suiban, where the water stays may assist growers style their trees to look like natural landscapes. Bonsly is the former, which explains the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Although this makes sense, though, The company seems almost a little too concerned regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature a hollow cavern below of Bonsly. It doesn't matter if the illustration of the Pokémon is weeping or calm: It's going to show hole. The hole is an intrinsic part of how Bonsly looks. Bonsly #71 gained meme status within the community thanks to that drainage hole, and also because of its unique position. For years before, Bonsly #71 was the only version featuring Bonsly released in the TCG where numerous creatures are typically depicted in multiple editions. For 16 years, should you desire this Pokémon card, you needed to accept with this specific design.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered this card on the list of these cursed cards, I realized I discovered my favorite one," Hopkins shares via email, noting that it was unexpected that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She is quick to tell you her passion for this particular card serves no practical purpose, but she didn't care. The initial interest evolved into a major fixation, with Emily purchasing each available Bonsly card she could possibly find. She quickly got into a routine of visiting her favorite shop regularly, and was dubbed among the staff as "Bonsly Girl". They started putting any new copies of Bonsly #71 it received exclusively for Emily. The majority of these are priced at one to three dollars, she mentions, calculating that she's spent about $400 only on the album itself.

Rising Prices

Nowadays, excellent the card might be valued at around fifteen dollars. Although that is expensive, standard versions are often priced at starting at $4. The upward trend more or less coincides with her starting point collecting seriously, although there are probably several factors at play. Even though Bonsly #71 is well-known among collectors, Emily's social media updates about it have attracted a huge audience. With information of its existence expands further to new fans, it's possible that their market price may continue to shoot up. At the very least, collectors mention how trading card game values are climbing in 2025 across the board.

No Signs of Stopping

Nothing can halt her, yet.

"What's incredible is some supporters and viewers on social media have shipped their own Bonsly cards to me to expand the set, and I am keeping these Bonsly safe forever," Hopkins says. Instead of being put off, fans are amazed and encouraged by her collection.

"I've long desired to attempt something similar," one commenter says. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card