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Pokémon creators unveiled collectors to the trading card game Diamond and Pearl edition in the year 2007, including a Bonsly trading card. On this artwork, Gen IV Rock Pokémon appears by illustrator the talented Harada in a, shall we say, compromising position. On the card, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo appears fallen and crying. However, don't mistake this, though. Like its ability the move Fake Tears, the little creature is trying to manipulate the foe's feelings in the hopes of reducing their offensive power. Unforgettable artwork, isn't it? Electroacoustic harpist Hopkins certainly thinks so. She owns an album with 305 cards of Bonsly to prove it.

Her Complete Set Including Rare Finds

But that isn't the whole collection either. She's got twenty holo reverse versions of this particular card, which depicts the tyke with metallic accents all over except the central artwork. The crown jewel, yet, proves to be the PSA 6-graded holo reverse Bonsly card. Certainly, it's far from a top-graded Charizard from the base set. However, can you claim a quirky, nearly pristine card of Bonsly preserved in all its splendor? I thought as much.

The Start of the Obsession

She invested a large part of this year stockpiling every 2007 Bonsly card she can possibly find. She initially learned regarding this discontinued card in recent months, during a discussion the most infamous cards in the Pokémon TCG with a worker in a nearby store. Omanyte in tears was a contender, along with the lonely Cubone on a park ride. However, the one that Crying Bonsly, aka card number 17, which captured Emily's focus.

The Concept of Bonsly

Bonsly is obviously influenced by bonsai plants, which are typically planted in containers featuring holes for drainage. These are meant to aid growth, so much so that fans suggest to peers to drill holes on the bottom if holes are missing. They can also be positioned in shallow containers hole-free, referred to as suiban, where the water stays could aid growers decorate their plants to mimic natural landscapes. Bonsly represents the first type, which explains the hole.

A Memorable and Notorious Card

Even with this reasonable background, though, The company seems almost excessively attentive about the drainage feature. Even merch including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature an empty space at the bottom of this plant Pokémon. It doesn't matter if the depiction of this particular Bonsly appears sad or at ease: It will display the hole. The hole is an intrinsic part in Bonsly's appearance. Card number 71 became a meme in collector circles because of its distinctive hole, in addition to its status. Until recently, the card was the single type featuring Bonsly released in the TCG where many of its monsters usually appear in various forms. Over a decade and a half, if you wanted a card of Bonsly, you were stuck with the hole version.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered Bonsly among the selections of these cursed cards, I felt I located my new favorite," she explains via email, mentioning how she felt astonished that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She is quick to inform you her love of Bonsly #71 has no real value, 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 soon developed a practice of stopping by her local card shop every week, and was dubbed among the staff as "Bonsly Girl". They started setting aside any recently acquired copies of Bonsly #71 that came in aside just for Hopkins. Typically, these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she says, approximating her total expenditure is approximately four hundred dollars just on the binder alone.

Market Trends and Value

These days, mint-condition the card can cost up to nearly $15. While that is a premium price, standard Bonsly #71 cards are often priced at starting at $4. The upward trend more or less coincides with her starting point collecting seriously, though there are likely several factors at play. Even though Bonsly #71 is well-known in the community, her online content regarding the card have attracted countless views. As awareness regarding Bonsly #71 expands further among more people, it is likely that the price of Bonsly #71 cards could keep rising. If nothing else, collectors say that TCG prices are skyrocketing this year overall.

No Signs of Stopping

Emily remains undeterred, however.

"The wonderful part is that some supporters and fans of the YouTube channel have shipped copies of Bonsly to Emily to expand the set, and they will remain these cards protected always," Hopkins says. Far from being alarmed, viewers feel admiration and motivation by this project.

"I've actually always wanted to attempt something similar," one commenter says. "Purchase all of a common card|every copy of a common card