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The Pokémon Company introduced collectors to the trading card game Diamond and Pearl set in the year 2007, showcasing a Bonsly trading card. Within this depiction, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is portrayed by illustrator Midori Harada in a, shall we say, compromising situation. In the image, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears fallen and shedding tears. But don't misunderstand, though. Like its ability Fake Tears suggests, this Pokémon is trying to influence the foe's feelings in the hopes of reducing their damage output. Iconic piece, isn't it? Musician and harpist Hopkins is a firm believer. She possesses a collection book filled with 305 cards of Bonsly as evidence.

The Full Collection Including Rare Finds

However, that's not the whole collection as well. She obtained a score of reverse holographic copies featuring Bonsly, which depicts the little guy with metallic accents all over except the main image. The crown jewel, though, proves to be the PSA 6-graded reverse holographic of Bonsly. Sure, it isn't a top-graded original Charizard card. Yet, do you possess a goofy, close to mint Bonsly card maintained in all its splendor? I didn't think so.

The Start of the Obsession

Emily dedicated much of 2025 stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She discovered regarding this discontinued card in recent months, during a discussion the most infamous cards in the compendium with a staff member at her favorite card shop. The weeping Omanyte was in the running, along with Cubone by itself on a park ride. However, the one that Bonsly crying, aka card number 17, that grabbed her interest.

The Concept of Bonsly

Bonsly is obviously influenced from miniature trees, which are often grown in containers featuring holes for drainage. They are designed to support healthy development, in fact growers suggest to peers to add holes in their containers if holes are missing. Bonsai can also be placed on shallow pots hole-free, called suiban, and the retained water can help growers arrange their bonsai to resemble nature vistas. Bonsly is the former, hence the hole.

A Memorable and Notorious Card

Even with this reasonable background, yet, The Pokémon Company appears somewhat excessively attentive regarding the hole in Bonsly. Even merchandise including stuffed Bonsly always incorporate a hollow cavern at the bottom of Bonsly. Regardless if the illustration of this particular Bonsly is crying or at ease: It will display hole. The hole is a fundamental aspect of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 gained meme status in collector circles both due to that drainage hole, in addition to its rarity. Up until last year, Bonsly #71 remained the sole iteration of Bonsly card released in the TCG in which most Pokémon are typically depicted in multiple editions. For 16 years, if you wanted a card of Bonsly, you needed to accept with this specific design.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered this card on the list of infamous cards, I realized I had found the one for me," Emily states over email, mentioning how she felt astonished to have never seen it before. She'll be the first to inform you her fondness for the Bonsly card has no real value, yet that didn't stop her. The initial interest became a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought each available Bonsly card she could possibly find. She quickly got into a routine of visiting her local card shop every week, and was dubbed to the employees as the Bonsly fan. The shop started putting any new this specific card they obtained aside just for Hopkins. Typically, these cards go for a few dollars, she notes, approximating she's spent somewhere around $400 just on the binder alone.

The Financial Side

Nowadays, pristine the card may reach prices of nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, ordinary Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost four dollars or more. That price increase corresponds to the time Emily began her collection in earnest, though there are likely various influences. Even though the card is notorious among collectors, her online content regarding the card have attracted countless views. As awareness regarding Bonsly #71 continues to spread among more people, it is likely that the value of these cards might increase even more. If nothing else, enthusiasts note that TCG prices are skyrocketing in 2025 overall.

Unstoppable Determination

Nothing can halt her, however.

"The wonderful part is that some supporters and fans from her channel have shipped their own Bonsly cards her way for her album, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," Hopkins says. Rather than recoil in horror, the audience are amazed and encouraged by her collection.

"For years, I wished to attempt something similar," an observer mentions. "Purchase all of a common card|every copy of a common card