🔗 Share this article

The Pokémon Company unveiled the world to the Pokémon TCG DP edition during 2007, featuring the Bonsly card. Within this depiction, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon appears by illustrator the talented Harada in an unusual situation. Here, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears knocked over and weeping. But don't misunderstand, however. Similar to its attack the move Fake Tears, the little creature aims to influence the other player's mood in the hopes of lowering their attack. Memorable card, no? Harp player Emily Hopkins absolutely agrees. And she's got a binder containing over 300 cards of Bonsly to prove it.

The Full Collection and Its Highlights

However, that's not the whole collection as well. She's got 20 reverse holographic copies of this particular card, showing the little guy in reflective foil covering everything except the central artwork. The most valuable item, yet, is the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic of Bonsly. Certainly, it's not a high-grade original Charizard card. Yet, do you possess a goofy, nearly pristine Bonsly illustration preserved in its eternal glory? Probably not.

The Start of the Obsession

Hopkins has spent most of the current year gathering all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She discovered of this rare card in recent months, while talking about the most infamous cards in the Pokémon TCG with a worker at her favorite card shop. The weeping Omanyte was in the running, along with Cubone by itself at the theme park. But it was Bonsly crying, or the seventeenth card, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.

The Concept of Bonsly

The design of Bonsly is based from miniature trees, which are often grown in planters with holes at the bottom. They are designed to help the plant grow, in fact enthusiasts advise one another to drill holes on the bottom if they don't already have one. Bonsai can also be placed in shallow containers lacking drainage, called suiban, and the retained water can help growers arrange their bonsai to look like nature vistas. Bonsly is the former, hence the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Despite this logical explanation, though, Pokémon's creators looks a bit excessively attentive regarding the hole in Bonsly. Even merch including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature an empty space below of this plant Pokémon. It doesn't matter if the illustration of the Pokémon is weeping or calm: It will display a hole. This hole represents a key element of how Bonsly looks. This specific Bonsly card gained meme status within the community both due to the famous hole, in addition to its unique position. Up until last year, the card was the only version featuring Bonsly released in the TCG in which most Pokémon are commonly shown in dozens of different ways. For sixteen years, were you seeking a card of Bonsly, you needed to accept with the hole version.

Emily's Dedication

"When I saw Bonsly among the selections of infamous cards, I knew I discovered my new favorite," Hopkins shares in a message, adding that she was surprised that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She admits freely to state her passion for Bonsly #71 is completely useless, but she didn't care. The initial interest became a major fixation, with Emily purchasing all copies of this card available to her. She soon developed a routine of visiting her local card shop every week, and became known by workers as "Bonsly Girl". The store began reserving all incoming this specific card they obtained only for her. Most of these cards go for a few dollars, she mentions, estimating that she's spent somewhere around $400 just on the binder alone.

The Financial Side

Currently, excellent the card can cost up to nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, standard versions usually go for $4 and above. The upward trend more or less coincides with when Hopkins started collecting seriously, though there are likely several factors at play. Even though this card is famous in the community, Emily's social media updates on it have received countless views. As awareness of its existence continues to spread to new fans, it is likely that the value of these cards might increase even more. If nothing else, collectors say that card market costs are soaring this year across the board.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Hopkins cannot be stopped, however.

"What's incredible is certain fans and fans on social media have sent their own Bonsly cards her way to add to my collection, and I am keeping these cards protected always," she declares. Rather than recoil in horror, fans are amazed and encouraged by this project.

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