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Pokémon creators released the world to the card series Diamond and Pearl edition in the year 2007, featuring the Bonsly card. On this artwork, the fourth generation rock-type appears by designer Midori Harada in an unusual situation. In the image, the predecessor to Sudowoodo can be seen toppled and crying. However, don't mistake this, though. Similar to its attack Fake Tears suggests, the little creature attempts to sway the foe's feelings to decreasing their attack. Iconic piece, no? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins is a firm believer. And she's got an album with 305 Bonsly illustrations as evidence.

The Full Collection and Its Highlights

That's not everything she has either. She's got a score of reverse foil copies featuring Bonsly, which depicts the little guy with shiny foil all over except the primary illustration. The most valuable item, yet, proves to be the PSA 6-graded reverse holographic Bonsly edition. Admittedly, it isn't a mint-condition original Charizard card. But do you have a goofy, close to mint Bonsly card preserved forever immortalized? I didn't think so.

How It All Began

She invested most of the current year stockpiling each Bonsly card from 2007 she can possibly find. She first heard regarding this discontinued card at the start of the year, while talking about the most cursed cards in the Pokémon TCG with a worker in a nearby store. Crying Omanyte was in the running, along with the forever alone Cubone at the theme park. But it was The sobbing Bonsly, or the seventeenth card, that caught her interest.

Behind Bonsly's Look

Bonsly is obviously influenced from miniature trees, which are often grown in planters with holes at the bottom. These are meant to support healthy development, in fact growers encourage each other to drill holes on the bottom if they don't already have one. They can also be positioned on shallow pots lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, and the collected moisture can help growers decorate their plants to resemble outdoor scenes. Bonsly is the former, thus the hole exists.

The Infamous Hole Card

Even with this reasonable background, however, The Pokémon Company appears somewhat overly focused regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products such as Bonsly plush toys ensure they feature an empty space below of this plant Pokémon. It doesn't matter if the illustration of the Pokémon is crying or at ease: It features a hole. The opening is an intrinsic part in Bonsly's appearance. Bonsly #71 turned into an internet joke in collector circles because of its distinctive hole, in addition to its status. Until recently, Bonsly #71 was the single type of Bonsly card printed in a game in which most Pokémon usually appear in multiple editions. For 16 years, were you seeking a Bonsly card, you were stuck with this specific design.

The Collector's Passion

"When I saw Bonsly among the selections of oddball cards, I realized I discovered my new favorite," she explains in a message, adding that she was surprised to have never seen it before. She admits freely to state her passion for the Bonsly card serves no practical purpose, but it didn't matter. The liking evolved into an all-consuming hobby, as Hopkins bought each available Bonsly card she could possibly find. She quickly got into a habit of going to the nearby card store every week, and became known to the employees as the Bonsly fan. The store began setting aside any recently acquired copies of Bonsly #71 they obtained aside just for Hopkins. The majority of these cost between $1 and $3, she says, approximating she has invested about $400 only on the album itself.

The Financial Side

Nowadays, pristine Bonsly #71 cards can cost up to nearly $15. Although that is expensive, run-of-the-mill versions usually go for $4 and above. That price increase roughly aligns with the time Emily began her collection in earnest, though there are likely multiple reasons. Even though this card is famous with enthusiasts, Emily's social media updates on it have received countless views. As news regarding Bonsly #71 keeps growing among more people, it is likely that their market price may continue to shoot up. At the very least, enthusiasts say that card market costs are soaring in 2025 overall.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Nothing can halt her, however.

"The amazing thing is that certain fans and fans of the YouTube channel have shipped copies of Bonsly her way for her album, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," she declares. Instead of being put off, the audience are amazed and encouraged by her collection.

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