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Pokémon creators released fans to the Pokémon TCG DP edition in the year 2007, featuring a Bonsly trading card. Within this depiction, the Gen 4 rock-type is portrayed by designer the talented Harada in a somewhat awkward pose. Here, this pre-evolution is depicted toppled and shedding tears. Don't be fooled, though. As its move the move Fake Tears, this Pokémon aims to influence their opponent's emotions in the hopes of reducing their attack. Memorable card, no? Electroacoustic harpist Hopkins is a firm believer. She owns a binder containing over 300 Bonsly illustrations to show for it.

The Entire Assortment with Key Pieces

However, that's not the whole collection either. She has acquired a score of holo reverse copies featuring Bonsly, which depicts the small Pokémon with metallic accents covering everything except the primary illustration. The prized possession, however, turns out to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic Bonsly edition. Certainly, it's far from a high-grade original Charizard card. Yet, do you possess a quirky, almost perfect Bonsly card kept forever immortalized? I thought as much.

Origins of the Collection

Hopkins has spent much of 2025 accumulating all available Bonsly cards from that year she can possibly find. She first heard of this rare card at the start of the year, while debating the most infamous cards among collectors with a worker at her favorite card shop. The weeping Omanyte was in the running, along with the forever alone Cubone in an amusement park. Yet it was Crying Bonsly, also known as the seventeenth card, which captured Emily's focus.

The Design and Inspiration

The design of Bonsly is based from miniature trees, which are typically planted in containers featuring holes for drainage. These are meant to aid growth, in fact fans encourage each other to create openings into their pots if holes are missing. Bonsai can also be placed on low dishes hole-free, called suiban, and the retained water can help caretakers decorate their plants to mimic natural landscapes. Bonsly represents the first type, hence the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Although this makes sense, however, The Pokémon Company appears somewhat excessively attentive regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products such as Bonsly plush toys make sure to include a hollow cavern at the bottom of Bonsly. It makes no difference whether the portrayal of the Pokémon is weeping or at ease: It features hole. The hole is an intrinsic part of Bonsly's design. Bonsly #71 gained meme status among fans both due to the famous hole, in addition to its rarity. Up until last year, the card remained the sole iteration featuring Bonsly released in the TCG in which most Pokémon are typically depicted in dozens of different ways. Over a decade and a half, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you had to settle for hole Bonsly.

Emily's Dedication

"Upon noticing this card on the list of these cursed cards, I knew I discovered the one for me," Hopkins shares over email, noting that she was surprised to have never seen it before. She is quick to state her fondness for this particular card serves no practical purpose, but she didn't care. The initial interest turned into a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought 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 to the employees as the Bonsly collector. The shop started reserving all incoming Bonsly #71 cards it received exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards go for a few dollars, she mentions, calculating that her total expenditure is approximately four hundred dollars for the collection book.

The Financial Side

Currently, excellent Bonsly #71 cards might be valued at nearly $15. While that is a premium price, run-of-the-mill Bonsly #71 cards usually go for four dollars or more. The upward trend more or less coincides with when Hopkins started building her set, though there are likely multiple reasons. Although Bonsly #71 is well-known with enthusiasts, her online content regarding the card have also garnered millions of views. As awareness about this card continues to spread among more people, it is likely that their market price could keep rising. Regardless, investors mention how card market costs are climbing currently across the board.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Emily remains undeterred, yet.

"The amazing thing remains that some supporters and fans on social media have shipped their Bonsly cards her way to add to my collection, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," she declares. Rather than recoil in horror, fans are impressed and inspired by her Bonsly binder.

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