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The Pokémon Company released fans to the Pokémon TCG DP expansion in the year 2007, showcasing the Bonsly illustration. On this artwork, the Gen 4 stone creature appears by illustrator Midori Harada in an unusual pose. In the image, this pre-evolution appears knocked over and crying. Don't be fooled, though. Similar to its attack Fake Tears suggests, this Pokémon is trying to sway their opponent's emotions to decreasing their damage output. Iconic piece, right? Electroacoustic harpist Emily absolutely agrees. She possesses a collection book with 305 cards of Bonsly as evidence.

Her Complete Set with Key Pieces

That's not the whole collection as well. She's got 20 reverse holographic versions of the Bonsly card, portraying the tyke with shiny foil covering everything except the central artwork. The crown jewel, however, turns out to be the professionally graded PSA 6 holo reverse Bonsly card. Admittedly, it isn't a mint-condition Charizard illustration. Yet, do you possess an amusing, close to mint Bonsly illustration maintained in its eternal glory? I didn't think so.

How It All Began

She invested much of 2025 stockpiling every 2007 Bonsly card available on the market. She initially learned of this rare card at the start of the year, during a discussion the most infamous cards among collectors with a staff member at a local shop. The weeping Omanyte was considered, just like Cubone by itself on a park ride. Yet it was Crying Bonsly, or card number 17, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.

The Concept of Bonsly

The design of Bonsly is based from miniature trees, which are typically planted in containers that have drainage holes. These are meant to help the plant grow, in fact growers encourage each other to add holes into their pots when none are present. Bonsai can also be placed on shallow pots hole-free, called suiban, where the water stays may assist caretakers style their trees to mimic natural landscapes. Bonsly fits the initial category, which explains the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Even with this reasonable background, yet, The company seems almost excessively attentive regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products like Bonsly plushes ensure they feature a cavity at the bottom of this plant Pokémon. It makes no difference if the depiction of the Pokémon is crying or content: It's going to show hole. This hole represents a fundamental aspect of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 gained meme status within the community both due to its distinctive hole, as well as its status. Until recently, Bonsly #71 remained the sole iteration of Bonsly card printed in a game in which most Pokémon usually appear in dozens of different ways. For 16 years, if you wanted this Pokémon card, you needed to accept for hole Bonsly.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered Bonsly among the selections of oddball cards, I knew I located my new favorite," Hopkins shares over email, noting that she was surprised to have missed it until then. She admits freely to state her love of Bonsly #71 is completely useless, but it didn't matter. The liking evolved into a full-blown obsession, with Emily purchasing every Bonsly #71 card that she could get her hands on. She soon developed a routine of going to her local card shop regularly, and became known among the staff as "Bonsly Girl". The shop started reserving all incoming Bonsly #71 cards it received aside just for Hopkins. The majority of these cost between $1 and $3, she mentions, estimating that her total expenditure is approximately four hundred dollars only on the album itself.

Market Trends and Value

Nowadays, excellent Bonsly #71 cards might be valued at $14.99. While that is a premium price, ordinary Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost four dollars or more. That price increase more or less coincides with her starting point her collection in earnest, though there are likely various influences. Although the card is notorious with enthusiasts, her online content about it have attracted millions of views. With information of its existence keeps growing to new fans, it is likely that the value of these cards might increase even more. If nothing else, collectors mention how TCG prices are climbing in 2025 across the board.

Unstoppable Determination

Hopkins cannot be stopped, yet.

"The wonderful part is some supporters and fans of the YouTube channel have shipped copies of Bonsly to Emily for her album, and I am keeping these Bonsly safe forever," Emily states. Rather than recoil in horror, viewers are amazed and encouraged by her Bonsly binder.

"For years, I wished to attempt something similar," one commenter says. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card