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The makers of Pokémon introduced fans to the card series Diamond and Pearl expansion in the year 2007, showcasing a Bonsly trading card. In this card, Gen IV Rock Pokémon is portrayed by designer Harada-san in an unusual position. On the card, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears knocked over and shedding tears. But don't misunderstand, however. As its move the move Fake Tears, this Pokémon aims to manipulate the foe's feelings with the goal of reducing their attack. Unforgettable artwork, isn't it? Electroacoustic harpist Emily is a firm believer. And she's got a binder containing over 300 cards of Bonsly to show for it.

The Entire Assortment Including Rare Finds

That's not the whole collection either. She obtained 20 reverse holographic editions of this particular card, portraying the tyke in reflective foil covering everything except the primary illustration. The prized possession, however, is the PSA 6-graded reverse holographic of Bonsly. Sure, it's not a mint-condition Charizard illustration. Yet, do you possess a goofy, nearly pristine Bonsly card maintained in all its splendor? I thought as much.

The Start of the Obsession

She invested much of 2025 stockpiling every 2007 Bonsly card available on the market. She initially learned about the out-of-print card at the start of the year, while debating the most cursed cards in the Pokémon TCG with an employee in a nearby store. Crying Omanyte was considered, along with Cubone by itself at the theme park. However, the one that Bonsly crying, also known as card number 17, which captured Hopkins's attention.

Behind Bonsly's Look

Bonsly draws clear inspiration from miniature trees, which are typically planted in containers featuring holes for drainage. They are designed to aid growth, to the extent that enthusiasts encourage each other to add holes into their pots if holes are missing. They can also be positioned on low dishes hole-free, known as suiban, where the water stays could aid growers decorate their plants to resemble outdoor scenes. Bonsly represents the first type, thus the hole exists.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Although this makes sense, though, Pokémon's creators looks a bit overly focused about the drainage feature. Even merchandise including stuffed Bonsly always incorporate an empty space below of this plant Pokémon. Regardless if the illustration of Bonsly in question is crying or calm: It will display the hole. This hole represents an intrinsic part of how Bonsly looks. Bonsly #71 gained meme status in collector circles both due to its distinctive hole, and also because of its rarity. Until recently, Bonsly #71 remained the sole iteration of Bonsly card printed in a game where many of its monsters are typically depicted in various forms. Over a decade and a half, should you desire a Bonsly card, you were stuck with this specific design.

The Collector's Passion

"Upon noticing this card on the list of oddball cards, I felt I discovered my favorite one," Hopkins shares over email, mentioning how she was surprised to have missed it until then. She admits freely to state her passion for the Bonsly card is completely useless, but she didn't care. The initial interest became a major fixation, with Emily purchasing each available Bonsly card available to her. She quickly got into a routine of stopping by her local card shop on a weekly basis, and became known to the employees as "Bonsly Girl". The store began putting any new this specific card they obtained exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she mentions, calculating that her total expenditure is approximately four hundred dollars just on the binder alone.

Market Trends and Value

Nowadays, pristine the card may reach prices of $14.99. While that is a premium price, run-of-the-mill versions are often priced at starting at $4. The upward trend roughly aligns with the time Emily began her collection in earnest, though there are likely several factors at play. While it's true that this card is famous in the community, her online content on it have received a huge audience. As news about this card keeps growing among more people, it is likely that the value of these cards could keep rising. At the very least, investors note that trading card game values are soaring in 2025 in general.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Emily remains undeterred, however.

"The wonderful part is that a few followers and viewers on social media have mailed their Bonsly cards to Emily to add to my collection, and she is preserving these cards protected always," Emily states. Instead of being put off, the audience are amazed and encouraged by this project.

"I've long desired to try this," a viewer notes. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card