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The makers of Pokémon introduced the world to the trading card game DP set back in 2007, showcasing a Bonsly trading card. On this artwork, the Gen 4 stone creature appears by illustrator the talented Harada in a, shall we say, compromising pose. Here, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo can be seen fallen and crying. Don't be fooled, though. As its move Fake Tears, the little creature attempts to sway the other player's mood with the goal of decreasing their offensive power. Memorable card, no? Musician and harpist Emily certainly thinks so. She possesses an album filled with 305 cards of Bonsly to show for it.

The Full Collection Including Rare Finds

But that isn't the full extent also. She obtained 20 reverse foil copies of this particular card, portraying the tyke in reflective foil all over except the primary illustration. The most valuable item, though, proves to be the professionally graded PSA 6 holo reverse Bonsly edition. Admittedly, it's far from a high-grade Charizard illustration. However, can you claim a quirky, almost perfect Bonsly illustration kept in all its splendor? I thought as much.

The Start of the Obsession

She invested a large part of this year stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She initially learned of this rare card in recent months, while talking about the notoriously odd cards in the Pokémon TCG with a worker in a nearby store. Crying Omanyte was a contender, as was Cubone by itself on a park ride. But it was The sobbing Bonsly, or Bonsly #17, which captured Emily's focus.

The Concept of Bonsly

The design of Bonsly is based from miniature trees, that are commonly placed in containers featuring holes for drainage. They are designed to support healthy development, in fact growers encourage each other to drill holes into their pots if they don't already have one. Additionally, bonsai may sit on low dishes lacking drainage, known as suiban, where the water stays could aid growers decorate their plants to resemble outdoor scenes. Bonsly is the former, hence the hole.

The Infamous Hole Card

Despite this logical explanation, though, The company seems almost excessively attentive regarding the hole in Bonsly. Even merch like Bonsly plushes make sure to include an empty space at the bottom of Bonsly. It makes no difference if the depiction of the Pokémon appears sad or calm: It's going to show a hole. The hole is a key element of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 turned into an internet joke among fans thanks to the famous hole, in addition to its unique position. Up until last year, Bonsly #71 remained the sole iteration featuring Bonsly released in the TCG where numerous creatures usually appear in various forms. For 16 years, if you wanted a Bonsly card, you needed to accept with this specific design.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered Bonsly among the selections of oddball cards, I realized I had found the one for me," she explains over email, adding that she was surprised that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to state her love of the Bonsly card serves no practical purpose, but she didn't care. The initial interest became a full-blown obsession, as she acquired every Bonsly #71 card she could possibly find. She quickly got into a routine of visiting her local card shop on a weekly basis, and earned the nickname among the staff as the Bonsly fan. They started reserving all incoming Bonsly #71 cards that came in only for her. Typically, these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she says, estimating that she's spent approximately four hundred dollars just on the binder alone.

The Financial Side

Nowadays, excellent this Bonsly card may reach prices of around fifteen dollars. While that's on the higher end, run-of-the-mill Bonsly #71 cards usually go for $4 and above. That price increase corresponds to when Hopkins started collecting seriously, although there are probably several factors at play. Even though the card is notorious with enthusiasts, her online content regarding the card have also garnered countless views. With information of its existence keeps growing to a wider audience, there's a chance the value of these cards could keep rising. If nothing else, enthusiasts note that trading card game values are soaring currently across the board.

No Signs of Stopping

Emily remains undeterred, however.

"The amazing thing remains that a few followers and viewers of the YouTube channel have mailed their Bonsly cards her way to add to my collection, and I am keeping them secure indefinitely," she declares. Rather than recoil in horror, viewers are impressed and inspired by her collection.

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