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The makers of Pokémon unveiled fans to the card series Diamond & Pearl expansion back in 2007, including the Bonsly illustration. Within this depiction, the Gen 4 stone creature is shown by illustrator Midori Harada in a somewhat awkward position. On the card, this pre-evolution appears toppled and crying. However, don't mistake this, though. As its move the move Fake Tears, Bonsly is trying to manipulate the foe's feelings in the hopes of reducing their attack. Memorable card, no? Harp player Hopkins certainly thinks so. And she's got a collection book filled with 305 Bonsly cards as evidence.

Her Complete Set Including Rare Finds

But that isn't the whole collection as well. She has acquired twenty reverse holographic copies of the Bonsly card, showing the little guy with metallic accents everywhere but the central artwork. The crown jewel, though, is the PSA 6-graded holo reverse of Bonsly. Sure, it's far from a high-grade Charizard illustration. Yet, do you possess a goofy, nearly pristine Bonsly illustration preserved in all its splendor? I thought as much.

How It All Began

Hopkins has spent much of 2025 accumulating all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She discovered regarding this discontinued card earlier this year, while debating the most cursed cards in the compendium with an employee at her favorite card shop. The weeping Omanyte was a contender, along with the lonely Cubone in an amusement park. However, the one that The sobbing Bonsly, or card number 17, which captured Emily's focus.

The Concept of Bonsly

Bonsly is obviously influenced on bonsai trees, which are often grown in planters with holes at the bottom. These are meant to support healthy development, so much so that enthusiasts advise one another to create openings into their pots if they don't already have one. Additionally, bonsai may sit in shallow containers lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, where the water stays may assist enthusiasts decorate their plants to look like nature vistas. Bonsly represents the first type, which explains the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Although this makes sense, though, The company seems almost a little too concerned regarding the hole in Bonsly. Even merchandise including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature an empty space below of Bonsly. It makes no difference if the illustration of the Pokémon is weeping or content: It will display hole. The opening is an intrinsic part of Bonsly's design. Bonsly #71 gained meme status within the community both due to its distinctive hole, and also because of its status. Up until last year, this Bonsly card was the only version of Bonsly card included in the series where many of its monsters usually appear in multiple editions. For 16 years, should you desire this Pokémon card, you were stuck for hole Bonsly.

A Growing Obsession

"Upon noticing Bonsly in the list of infamous cards, I knew I located my favorite one," Emily states over email, mentioning how she was surprised that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She is quick to tell you her love of this particular card serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The liking became a major fixation, as she acquired each available Bonsly card available to her. She adopted a habit of going to her local card shop regularly, and became known to the employees as "Bonsly Girl". The shop started putting any new this specific card that came in exclusively for Emily. The majority of these cost between $1 and $3, she says, calculating that she has invested about $400 just on the binder alone.

Rising Prices

Currently, excellent this Bonsly card may reach prices of nearly $15. Although that is expensive, run-of-the-mill versions are often priced at starting at $4. The upward trend corresponds to her starting point building her set, though there are likely multiple reasons. Although Bonsly #71 is well-known among collectors, her online content on it have also garnered countless views. With information about this card expands further to new fans, it's possible that their market price may continue to shoot up. If nothing else, enthusiasts mention how trading card game values are soaring currently across the board.

Unstoppable Determination

Emily remains undeterred, yet.

"The wonderful part is certain fans and fans of the YouTube channel have shipped copies of Bonsly to Emily to add to my collection, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," Hopkins says. Rather than recoil in horror, fans are impressed and inspired by this project.

"I've actually always wanted to attempt something similar," a viewer notes. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card