🔗 Share this article

The Pokémon Company introduced fans to the card series Diamond and Pearl expansion back in 2007, including a Bonsly trading card. Within this depiction, the Gen 4 rock-type is portrayed by designer Midori Harada in an unusual position. In the image, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears toppled and shedding tears. Don't be fooled, though. As its move Fake Tears, this Pokémon attempts to influence the foe's feelings in the hopes of reducing their damage output. Memorable card, no? Harp player Emily is a firm believer. And she's got a collection book filled with 305 Bonsly illustrations to prove it.

The Full Collection Including Rare Finds

That's not everything she has also. She's got twenty holo reverse copies featuring Bonsly, showing the small Pokémon with metallic accents everywhere but the main image. The crown jewel, yet, turns out to be the professionally graded PSA 6 reverse holographic of Bonsly. Admittedly, it isn't a mint-condition original Charizard card. However, can you claim a goofy, close to mint Bonsly illustration preserved in all its splendor? I thought as much.

How It All Began

Hopkins has spent most of the current year stockpiling every 2007 Bonsly card available on the market. She initially learned about the out-of-print card earlier this year, during a discussion the most infamous cards in the compendium with a staff member at a local shop. Omanyte in tears was in the running, along with Cubone by itself in an amusement park. However, the one that Bonsly crying, also known as card number 17, that caught Emily's focus.

Behind Bonsly's Look

The design of Bonsly is based on bonsai trees, which are often grown in containers that have drainage holes. They are designed to support healthy development, in fact enthusiasts suggest to peers to drill holes into their pots when none are present. They can also be positioned on shallow pots lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, where the water stays may assist enthusiasts style their trees to resemble nature vistas. Bonsly fits the initial category, thus the hole exists.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Although this makes sense, however, Pokémon's creators seems almost overly focused about the drainage feature. Even merch like Bonsly plushes make sure to include a hollow cavern at the bottom of this plant Pokémon. It makes no difference if the illustration of this particular Bonsly is crying or calm: It's going to show a hole. This hole represents a fundamental aspect in Bonsly's appearance. This specific Bonsly card gained meme status within the community thanks to the famous hole, in addition to its rarity. Up until last year, Bonsly #71 was the only version of Bonsly available printed in a game where numerous creatures are commonly shown in various forms. For sixteen years, should you desire a card of Bonsly, you had to settle for hole Bonsly.

The Collector's Passion

"When I saw this card on the list of infamous cards, I felt I located the one for me," she explains over email, noting that she was surprised to have never seen it before. She admits freely to inform you her passion for Bonsly #71 serves no practical purpose, but she didn't care. The appreciation evolved into a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought all copies of this card available to her. She quickly got into a habit of stopping by her favorite shop on a weekly basis, and earned the nickname by workers as "Bonsly Girl". The shop started setting aside any recently acquired Bonsly #71 cards that came in only for her. The majority of these cost between $1 and $3, she says, calculating that her total expenditure is somewhere around $400 only on the album itself.

The Financial Side

These days, pristine the card may reach prices of nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, standard Bonsly #71 cards usually go for four dollars or more. The upward trend more or less coincides with her starting point building her set, although there are probably several factors at play. Although Bonsly #71 is well-known with enthusiasts, Hopkins's posts regarding the card have attracted countless views. With information about this card continues to spread among more people, it's possible that the price of Bonsly #71 cards may continue to shoot up. Regardless, collectors note that TCG prices are soaring in 2025 overall.

No Signs of Stopping

Nothing can halt her, however.

"The amazing thing remains that some supporters and fans of the YouTube channel have sent copies of Bonsly her way for her album, and I am keeping them secure indefinitely," Hopkins says. Rather than recoil in horror, the audience are amazed and encouraged by her collection.

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