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The Pokémon Company unveiled collectors to the card series Diamond & Pearl expansion in the year 2007, including the Bonsly illustration. In this card, the Gen 4 rock-type is shown by artist the talented Harada in a, shall we say, compromising position. In the image, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears toppled and shedding tears. But don't misunderstand, yet. Like its ability Fake Tears, Bonsly attempts to sway their opponent's emotions with the goal of decreasing their offensive power. Memorable card, no? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins certainly thinks so. She possesses a binder containing over 300 Bonsly cards to show for it.

Her Complete Set Including Rare Finds

But that isn't the whole collection also. She's got twenty reverse foil editions featuring Bonsly, portraying the tyke in reflective foil everywhere but the main image. The prized possession, however, turns out to be the PSA 6-rated holo reverse of Bonsly. Sure, it's far from a mint-condition Charizard illustration. However, can you claim a goofy, nearly pristine Bonsly illustration maintained in all its splendor? Probably not.

Origins of the Collection

She invested a large part of this year stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She first heard of this rare card in recent months, while debating the most infamous cards in the Pokémon TCG with an employee at her favorite card shop. Crying Omanyte was in the running, as was the lonely Cubone at the theme park. Yet it was Crying Bonsly, or Bonsly #17, that caught Hopkins's attention.

The Concept of Bonsly

The design of Bonsly is based on bonsai trees, that are commonly placed in planters that have drainage holes. These holes are intended to help the plant grow, to the extent that enthusiasts suggest to peers to add holes on the bottom if they don't already have one. Bonsai can also be placed on shallow pots hole-free, referred to as suiban, and the collected moisture can help enthusiasts arrange their bonsai to resemble natural landscapes. Bonsly represents the first type, thus the hole exists.

The Infamous Hole Card

Despite this logical explanation, though, The company appears somewhat overly focused with Bonsly's hole. Even merchandise including stuffed Bonsly make sure to include a hollow cavern below of the tree-like Pokémon. Regardless if the depiction of this particular Bonsly is weeping or content: It's going to show hole. This hole represents an intrinsic part of how Bonsly looks. This specific Bonsly card became a meme within the community because of the famous hole, and also because of its unique position. Up until last year, the card was the single type of Bonsly available included in the series where many of its monsters usually appear in dozens of different ways. For sixteen years, should you desire a Bonsly card, you had to settle with this specific design.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered this card on the list of these cursed cards, I knew I located my new favorite," Emily states via email, noting that she was surprised to have never seen it before. She admits freely to state her love of this particular card is completely useless, yet that didn't stop her. The appreciation evolved into a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought each available Bonsly card that she could get her hands on. She adopted a habit of stopping by the nearby card store regularly, and became known by workers as the Bonsly fan. The store began putting any new this specific card it received only for her. Most of these cards go for a few dollars, she mentions, calculating that she's spent somewhere around $400 just on the binder alone.

The Financial Side

Nowadays, mint-condition the card can cost up to around fifteen dollars. Although that is expensive, run-of-the-mill versions tend to cost four dollars or more. The upward trend roughly aligns with when Hopkins started building her set, although there are probably various influences. Even though this card is famous among collectors, Hopkins's posts regarding the card have received millions of views. As awareness regarding Bonsly #71 keeps growing to new fans, it is likely that their market price might increase even more. At the very least, collectors mention how card market costs are skyrocketing in 2025 across the board.

Unstoppable Determination

Emily remains undeterred, however.

"The amazing thing is that some supporters and enthusiasts of the YouTube channel have shipped their Bonsly cards to me for her album, and they will remain them secure indefinitely," Hopkins says. Instead of being put off, viewers feel admiration and motivation by her collection.

"For years, I wished to try this," a viewer notes. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card