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The makers of Pokémon introduced collectors to the Pokémon TCG Diamond & Pearl set in the year 2007, showcasing the Bonsly illustration. In this card, the Gen 4 rock-type is portrayed by illustrator Midori Harada in a, shall we say, compromising situation. In the image, this pre-evolution can be seen fallen and crying. Don't be fooled, however. Like its ability Fake Tears, this Pokémon attempts to manipulate the other player's mood to reducing their damage output. Unforgettable artwork, no? Electroacoustic harpist Emily is a firm believer. And she's got an album filled with 305 cards of Bonsly to prove it.

The Entire Assortment with Key Pieces

However, that's not the whole collection either. She obtained a score of reverse foil copies of the Bonsly card, portraying the little guy in reflective foil all over except the central artwork. The crown jewel, however, is the professionally graded PSA 6 reverse holo Bonsly edition. Sure, it's not a high-grade original Charizard card. But do you have a goofy, close to mint card of Bonsly kept forever immortalized? Probably not.

The Start of the Obsession

She invested a large part of this year stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year available on the market. She first heard about the out-of-print card at the start of the year, while debating the most infamous cards in the Pokémon TCG with a worker at her favorite card shop. Crying Omanyte was in the running, along with Cubone by itself on a park ride. But it was The sobbing Bonsly, or Bonsly #17, that grabbed Emily's focus.

The Design and Inspiration

Bonsly is obviously influenced on bonsai trees, that are commonly placed in planters featuring holes for drainage. They are designed to help the plant grow, so much so that fans encourage each other to add holes in their containers if they don't already have one. Additionally, bonsai may sit on shallow pots without holes, known as suiban, and the collected moisture could aid growers arrange their bonsai to resemble outdoor scenes. Bonsly represents the first type, thus the hole exists.

A Memorable and Notorious Card

Although this makes sense, however, Pokémon's creators seems almost overly focused about the drainage feature. Also, products like Bonsly plushes ensure they feature an empty space on the underside of the tree-like Pokémon. It doesn't matter whether the portrayal of Bonsly in question is crying or at ease: It features a hole. The hole is an intrinsic part of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 turned into an internet joke among fans both due to the famous hole, and also because of its rarity. Up until last year, this Bonsly card remained the sole iteration featuring Bonsly released in the TCG where numerous creatures usually appear in dozens of different ways. For sixteen years, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you needed to accept with this specific design.

The Collector's Passion

"Upon noticing Bonsly among the selections of oddball cards, I felt I discovered the one for me," Emily states over email, noting that it was unexpected to have never seen it before. She'll be the first to tell you her fondness for Bonsly #71 has no real value, yet that didn't stop her. The liking evolved into a major fixation, as Hopkins bought every Bonsly #71 card available to her. She adopted a habit of visiting her local card shop on a weekly basis, and became known among the staff as the Bonsly fan. The store began setting aside any recently acquired copies of Bonsly #71 they obtained aside just for Hopkins. The majority of these go for a few dollars, she says, estimating that she has invested somewhere around $400 for the collection book.

The Financial Side

These days, excellent Bonsly #71 cards might be valued at nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, standard Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost $4 and above. That price increase more or less coincides with when Hopkins started her collection in earnest, though there are likely various influences. While it's true that Bonsly #71 is well-known with enthusiasts, her online content about it have attracted a huge audience. 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. If nothing else, investors say that trading card game values are skyrocketing currently overall.

Unstoppable Determination

Hopkins cannot be stopped, yet.

"The amazing thing is that some supporters and fans of the YouTube channel have sent their Bonsly cards her way to add to my collection, and I am keeping them secure indefinitely," Emily states. Rather than recoil in horror, viewers feel admiration and motivation by her collection.

"I've long desired to attempt something similar," an observer mentions. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card