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The makers of Pokémon released collectors to the Pokémon TCG DP edition in the year 2007, featuring a Bonsly trading card. In this card, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is shown by artist the talented Harada in a, shall we say, compromising pose. On the card, this pre-evolution can be seen knocked over and crying. However, don't mistake this, however. As its move the move Fake Tears, Bonsly attempts to sway their opponent's emotions in the hopes of reducing their attack. Iconic piece, no? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins certainly thinks so. And she's got a binder with 305 Bonsly cards to prove it.

Her Complete Set Including Rare Finds

But that isn't the full extent as well. She has acquired twenty holo reverse copies featuring Bonsly, which depicts the little guy in reflective foil covering everything except the central artwork. The most valuable item, however, turns out to be the PSA 6-graded reverse holo of Bonsly. Certainly, it's not a mint-condition Charizard from the base set. Yet, do you possess a quirky, almost perfect Bonsly card kept in its eternal glory? Probably not.

The Start of the Obsession

Hopkins has spent most of the current year gathering each Bonsly card from 2007 she can possibly find. She discovered of this rare card at the start of the year, while debating the notoriously odd cards among collectors with an employee in a nearby store. Crying Omanyte was considered, just like Cubone by itself in an amusement park. Yet it was Bonsly crying, aka card number 17, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.

The Concept of Bonsly

Bonsly draws clear inspiration from miniature trees, that are commonly placed in planters that have drainage holes. They are designed to support healthy development, in fact growers advise one another to drill holes into their pots if holes are missing. Bonsai can also be placed on shallow pots lacking drainage, known as suiban, and the retained water could aid growers decorate their plants to look like nature vistas. Bonsly represents the first type, hence the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Even with this reasonable background, yet, The company appears somewhat a little too concerned about the drainage feature. Even merchandise like Bonsly plushes ensure they feature an empty space on the underside of the tree-like Pokémon. It makes no difference if the illustration of the Pokémon appears sad or content: It will display a hole. This hole represents a fundamental aspect of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 became a meme within the community both due to that drainage hole, in addition to its unique position. Until recently, this Bonsly card was the single type featuring Bonsly included in the series where numerous creatures usually appear in various forms. Over a decade and a half, were you seeking a Bonsly card, you were stuck with the hole version.

A Growing Obsession

"When I saw this card on the list of these cursed cards, I realized I discovered my favorite one," she explains over email, adding that it was unexpected that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to state her love of this particular card serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The initial interest evolved into an all-consuming hobby, with Emily purchasing every Bonsly #71 card that she could get her hands on. She adopted a habit of visiting her favorite shop every week, and was dubbed among the staff as the Bonsly fan. They started reserving all incoming Bonsly #71 cards that came in exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards go for a few dollars, she notes, approximating she's spent somewhere around $400 just on the binder alone.

Rising Prices

Nowadays, pristine this Bonsly card might be valued at $14.99. While that is a premium price, run-of-the-mill Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost starting at $4. That price increase more or less coincides with her starting point building her set, but it's possible that multiple reasons. Even though Bonsly #71 is well-known among collectors, Emily's social media updates about it have received millions of views. As news about this card keeps growing to new fans, there's a chance the price of Bonsly #71 cards might increase even more. Regardless, enthusiasts note that TCG prices are skyrocketing in 2025 in general.

No Signs of Stopping

Emily remains undeterred, however.

"What's incredible is certain fans and viewers of the YouTube channel have shipped their own Bonsly cards her way for her album, and they will remain these Bonsly safe forever," Hopkins says. Rather than recoil in horror, the audience feel admiration and motivation by her Bonsly binder.

"For years, I wished to try this," a viewer notes. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card