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Pokémon creators released fans to the trading card game Diamond & Pearl edition back in 2007, including the Bonsly illustration. Within this depiction, Gen IV Rock Pokémon is shown by designer the talented Harada in a, shall we say, compromising situation. In the image, the predecessor to Sudowoodo is depicted fallen and shedding tears. But don't misunderstand, yet. As its move Fake Tears, the little creature is trying to sway the foe's feelings to reducing their attack. Unforgettable artwork, no? Musician and harpist Emily Hopkins is a firm believer. And she's got an album with 305 Bonsly illustrations to prove it.

The Full Collection Including Rare Finds

That's not the whole collection either. She obtained a score of holo reverse editions featuring Bonsly, portraying the small Pokémon in reflective foil everywhere but the main image. The most valuable item, however, proves to be the PSA 6-rated holo reverse Bonsly edition. Admittedly, it's not a mint-condition Charizard illustration. However, can you claim a goofy, almost perfect card of Bonsly maintained forever immortalized? Probably not.

How It All Began

She invested a large part of this year gathering each Bonsly card from 2007 that she could locate. She initially learned of this rare card at the start of the year, while talking about the most cursed cards in the compendium with an employee at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was considered, along with the forever alone Cubone in an amusement park. But it was The sobbing Bonsly, or the seventeenth card, that caught Hopkins's attention.

The Design and Inspiration

Bonsly draws clear inspiration from miniature trees, that are commonly placed in pots with holes at the bottom. They are designed to support healthy development, to the extent that growers encourage each other to add holes in their containers when none are present. Bonsai can also be placed in shallow containers lacking drainage, called suiban, and the retained water can help caretakers arrange their bonsai to look like nature vistas. Bonsly represents the first type, which explains the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Despite this logical explanation, however, The Pokémon Company seems almost overly focused with Bonsly's hole. Even merchandise like Bonsly plushes always incorporate an empty space below of the tree-like Pokémon. It doesn't matter whether the portrayal of this particular Bonsly is crying or content: It's going to show the hole. The hole is a key element of how Bonsly looks. Bonsly #71 became a meme in collector circles thanks to its distinctive hole, and also because of its status. Until recently, this Bonsly card was the single type of Bonsly available printed in a game in which most Pokémon are typically depicted in multiple editions. For sixteen years, were you seeking a Bonsly card, you had to settle for hole Bonsly.

A Growing Obsession

"Upon noticing Bonsly among the selections of oddball cards, I felt I had found the one for me," Hopkins shares in a message, mentioning how she was surprised that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She is quick to state her love of the Bonsly card serves no practical purpose, but it didn't matter. The liking became a major fixation, as Hopkins bought every Bonsly #71 card she could possibly find. She soon developed a habit of stopping by her favorite shop every week, and earned the nickname among the staff as the Bonsly fan. The shop started reserving all incoming this specific card that came in exclusively for Emily. The majority of these cost between $1 and $3, she says, approximating she's spent somewhere around $400 only on the album itself.

The Financial Side

These days, pristine the card can cost up to nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, run-of-the-mill Bonsly #71 cards are often priced at $4 and above. The upward trend corresponds to her starting point her collection in earnest, although there are probably various influences. Even though Bonsly #71 is well-known with enthusiasts, her online content about it have also garnered countless views. As awareness regarding Bonsly #71 expands further among more people, it's possible that the price of Bonsly #71 cards may continue to shoot up. Regardless, investors note that trading card game values are soaring currently across the board.

Unstoppable Determination

Nothing can halt her, though.

"The amazing thing is that a few followers and viewers from her channel have shipped copies of Bonsly to me to add to my collection, and I am keeping them secure indefinitely," Hopkins says. Far from being alarmed, fans are impressed and inspired by her Bonsly binder.

"For years, I wished to attempt something similar," an observer mentions. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card