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Pokémon creators unveiled the world to the trading card game Diamond and Pearl edition in the year 2007, including the Bonsly card. On this artwork, Gen IV stone creature is portrayed by artist the talented Harada in a, shall we say, compromising position. On the card, this pre-evolution appears knocked over and weeping. Don't be fooled, yet. Similar to its attack Fake Tears suggests, the little creature is trying to manipulate the foe's feelings to decreasing their offensive power. Unforgettable artwork, no? Electroacoustic harpist Hopkins certainly thinks so. And she's got a binder filled with 305 Bonsly illustrations to show for it.

The Full Collection and Its Highlights

However, that's not the whole collection also. She's got twenty reverse holographic copies featuring Bonsly, which depicts the tyke with metallic accents covering everything except the central artwork. The most valuable item, yet, proves to be the PSA 6-graded holo reverse of Bonsly. Certainly, it's far from a high-grade Charizard from the base set. However, can you claim a goofy, close to mint Bonsly card kept in its eternal glory? I didn't think so.

The Start of the Obsession

She invested much of 2025 gathering all available Bonsly cards from that year available on the market. She discovered regarding this discontinued card in recent months, during a discussion the most cursed cards in the Pokémon TCG with a worker at a local shop. Omanyte in tears was a contender, along with the lonely Cubone on a park ride. However, the one that Bonsly crying, aka Bonsly #17, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.

The Design and Inspiration

The design of Bonsly is based from miniature trees, that are commonly placed in planters with holes at the bottom. These are meant to aid growth, in fact growers advise one another to create openings on the bottom if they don't already have one. Bonsai can also be placed in shallow containers lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, where the water stays can help caretakers style their trees to resemble natural landscapes. Bonsly is the former, thus the hole exists.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Although this makes sense, though, Pokémon's creators seems almost a little too concerned with Bonsly's hole. Even merch such as Bonsly plush toys make sure to include a cavity on the underside of Bonsly. Regardless whether the portrayal of Bonsly in question is crying or calm: It's going to show the hole. The opening is an intrinsic part of Bonsly's design. Bonsly #71 gained meme status in collector circles thanks to that drainage hole, as well as its status. For years before, Bonsly #71 was the only version of Bonsly card printed in a game in which most Pokémon usually appear in various forms. For sixteen years, if you wanted a card of Bonsly, you were stuck for hole Bonsly.

Emily's Dedication

"When I discovered Bonsly among the selections of these cursed cards, I knew I had found my new favorite," Emily states over email, noting that she was surprised to have never seen it before. She is quick to inform you her fondness for the Bonsly card is completely useless, yet that didn't stop her. The appreciation evolved into an all-consuming hobby, as Hopkins bought each available Bonsly card she could possibly find. She adopted a practice of stopping by her local card shop every week, and was dubbed among the staff as "Bonsly Girl". The store began setting aside any recently acquired copies of Bonsly #71 that came in only for her. Typically, these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she mentions, estimating that she's spent approximately four hundred dollars for the collection book.

Market Trends and Value

Currently, mint-condition Bonsly #71 cards can cost up to nearly $15. While that is a premium price, standard copies tend to cost $4 and above. That price increase corresponds to the time Emily began building her set, though there are likely multiple reasons. Even though the card is notorious with enthusiasts, Hopkins's posts about it have attracted a huge audience. As news regarding Bonsly #71 continues to spread among more people, it's possible that their market price could keep rising. Regardless, investors mention how TCG prices are soaring this year overall.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Hopkins cannot be stopped, yet.

"The amazing thing is that some supporters and viewers of the YouTube channel have sent copies of Bonsly to me to expand the set, and they will remain these Bonsly safe forever," she declares. Rather than recoil in horror, viewers are amazed and encouraged by her collection.

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