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Pokémon creators released fans to the card series DP expansion in the year 2007, including a Bonsly trading card. In this card, the Gen 4 Rock Pokémon is portrayed by artist Harada-san in a somewhat awkward pose. In the image, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears knocked over and shedding tears. But don't misunderstand, though. Like its ability the move Fake Tears, the little creature attempts to sway their opponent's emotions in the hopes of reducing their attack. Unforgettable artwork, no? Electroacoustic harpist Emily certainly thinks so. She possesses a collection book filled with 305 Bonsly illustrations to show for it.

The Full Collection Including Rare Finds

That's not the whole collection also. She's got 20 reverse foil versions of this particular card, which depicts the small Pokémon in reflective foil covering everything except the central artwork. The crown jewel, however, turns out to be the PSA 6-graded holo reverse Bonsly edition. Sure, it's not a mint-condition Charizard from the base set. But do you have a quirky, close to mint card of Bonsly maintained in its eternal glory? I didn't think so.

The Start of the Obsession

Emily dedicated most of the current year accumulating all available Bonsly cards from that year she can possibly find. She discovered about the out-of-print card earlier this year, while talking about the most infamous cards in the compendium with a worker at her favorite card shop. Omanyte in tears was considered, just like the forever alone Cubone on a park ride. However, the one that The sobbing Bonsly, or card number 17, that caught her interest.

Behind Bonsly's Look

Bonsly is obviously influenced by bonsai plants, that are commonly placed in pots with holes at the bottom. These holes are intended to support healthy development, to the extent that growers advise one another to drill holes into their pots if holes are missing. They can also be positioned on shallow pots lacking drainage, called suiban, and the collected moisture can help enthusiasts decorate their plants to mimic outdoor scenes. Bonsly is the former, hence the hole.

The Infamous Hole Card

Although this makes sense, yet, The Pokémon Company appears somewhat overly focused about the drainage feature. Also, products including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature a hollow cavern at the bottom of Bonsly. It makes no difference if the depiction of Bonsly in question is crying or content: It's going to show a hole. The opening is a key element of how Bonsly looks. Bonsly #71 turned into an internet joke within the community thanks to the famous hole, and also because of its status. For years before, the card remained the sole iteration featuring Bonsly released in the TCG in which most Pokémon are typically depicted 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

"Upon noticing Bonsly among the selections of these cursed cards, I felt I had found the one for me," she explains via email, mentioning how it was unexpected that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to state her love of the Bonsly card has no real value, but it didn't matter. The liking evolved into a major fixation, as Hopkins bought all copies of this card she could possibly find. She soon developed a routine of stopping by the nearby card store regularly, and was dubbed to the employees as the Bonsly collector. The store began setting aside any recently acquired Bonsly #71 cards it received only for her. Most of these cards go for a few dollars, she says, calculating that her total expenditure is somewhere around $400 for the collection book.

Rising Prices

Nowadays, excellent Bonsly #71 cards might be valued at around fifteen dollars. While that is a premium price, ordinary Bonsly #71 cards are often priced at four dollars or more. That price increase roughly aligns with when Hopkins started collecting seriously, but it's possible that various influences. While it's true that the card is notorious among collectors, Hopkins's posts on it have attracted millions of views. As awareness regarding Bonsly #71 keeps growing to new fans, it is likely that the price of Bonsly #71 cards could keep rising. If nothing else, collectors mention how TCG prices are climbing in 2025 across the board.

No Signs of Stopping

Nothing can halt her, though.

"The amazing thing is some supporters and viewers of the YouTube channel have shipped their own Bonsly cards her way for her album, and I am keeping these cards protected always," Emily states. Rather than recoil in horror, viewers are impressed and inspired by this project.

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