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The Pokémon Company released collectors to the card series DP expansion during 2007, featuring a Bonsly trading card. Within this depiction, Gen IV Rock Pokémon appears by artist the talented Harada in an unusual situation. Here, this pre-evolution appears toppled and crying. But don't misunderstand, though. As its move the move Fake Tears, this Pokémon is trying to influence the other player's mood in the hopes of reducing their offensive power. Memorable card, right? Electroacoustic harpist Hopkins is a firm believer. And she's got a binder containing over 300 cards of Bonsly as evidence.

The Entire Assortment Including Rare Finds

But that isn't the whole collection also. She's got twenty reverse holographic editions of this particular card, which depicts the small Pokémon with shiny foil all over except the central artwork. The most valuable item, though, proves to be the PSA 6-rated holo reverse of Bonsly. Sure, it's far from a mint-condition Charizard illustration. But do you have a goofy, almost perfect Bonsly card maintained in its eternal glory? I thought as much.

Origins of the Collection

She invested much of 2025 accumulating every 2007 Bonsly card available on the market. She first heard of this rare card in recent months, during a discussion the most cursed cards in the Pokémon TCG with a staff member at her favorite card shop. Omanyte in tears was considered, along with the forever alone Cubone at the theme park. But it was The sobbing Bonsly, or the seventeenth card, that grabbed Emily's focus.

The Concept of Bonsly

The design of Bonsly is based on bonsai trees, which are typically planted in containers featuring holes for drainage. They are designed to support healthy development, in fact enthusiasts suggest to peers to drill holes in their containers if holes are missing. Additionally, bonsai may sit on shallow pots lacking drainage, called suiban, and the collected moisture could aid growers style their trees to mimic outdoor scenes. Bonsly is the former, thus the hole exists.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Even with this reasonable background, however, The Pokémon Company seems almost excessively attentive with Bonsly's hole. Even merch including stuffed Bonsly make sure to include a hollow cavern at the bottom of this plant Pokémon. It makes no difference whether the portrayal of Bonsly in question is crying or calm: It's going to show the hole. The hole is a key element of how Bonsly looks. Bonsly #71 turned into an internet joke among fans thanks to that drainage hole, as well as its status. Up until last year, this Bonsly card was the single type of Bonsly available released in the TCG where numerous creatures usually appear in various forms. For sixteen years, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you were stuck with this specific design.

A Growing Obsession

"When I discovered Bonsly in the list of these cursed cards, I knew I had found the one for me," Emily states via email, mentioning how she felt astonished to have missed it until then. She'll be the first to tell you her fondness for the Bonsly card serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The initial interest became an all-consuming hobby, with Emily purchasing all copies of this card she could possibly find. She soon developed a routine of stopping by the nearby card store regularly, and earned the nickname among the staff as "Bonsly Girl". They started setting aside any recently acquired this specific card that came in only for her. The majority of these are priced at one to three dollars, she notes, estimating that she's spent approximately four hundred dollars for the collection book.

Market Trends and Value

Nowadays, mint-condition the card might be valued at nearly $15. Although that is expensive, ordinary versions tend to cost four dollars or more. The upward trend roughly aligns with her starting point collecting seriously, but it's possible that multiple reasons. Although the card is notorious in the community, Hopkins's posts regarding the card have received millions of views. With information regarding Bonsly #71 continues to spread to new fans, it's possible that the price of Bonsly #71 cards may continue to shoot up. If nothing else, enthusiasts note that TCG prices are skyrocketing in 2025 overall.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Nothing can halt her, though.

"The wonderful part is that a few followers and viewers of the YouTube channel have shipped their own Bonsly cards to Emily to add to my collection, and they will remain these Bonsly safe forever," Hopkins says. Rather than recoil in horror, the audience feel admiration and motivation by her collection.

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