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Pokémon creators released fans to the Pokémon TCG Diamond and Pearl set in the year 2007, featuring a Bonsly trading card. Within this depiction, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is portrayed by illustrator the talented Harada in a somewhat awkward situation. Here, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo is depicted fallen and crying. Don't be fooled, however. Like its ability the move Fake Tears, Bonsly is trying to manipulate the other player's mood to decreasing their attack. Memorable card, isn't it? Musician and harpist Hopkins is a firm believer. And she's got a collection book containing over 300 Bonsly illustrations as evidence.

The Full Collection and Its Highlights

However, that's not the whole collection as well. She has acquired 20 reverse foil editions of this particular card, which depicts the little guy with metallic accents covering everything except the central artwork. The prized possession, however, proves to be the PSA 6-rated holo reverse of Bonsly. Sure, it's not a mint-condition Charizard from the base set. But do you have a quirky, almost perfect Bonsly illustration maintained forever immortalized? Probably not.

The Start of the Obsession

She invested much of 2025 stockpiling every 2007 Bonsly card she can possibly find. She initially learned about the out-of-print card at the start of the year, while talking about the most cursed cards in the Pokémon TCG with a worker at her favorite card shop. The weeping Omanyte was in the running, as was the lonely Cubone at the theme park. But it was Bonsly crying, or Bonsly #17, that caught Emily's focus.

Behind Bonsly's Look

Bonsly is obviously influenced on bonsai trees, which are typically planted in planters that have drainage holes. They are designed to aid growth, to the extent that fans suggest to peers to drill holes in their containers if they don't already have one. Bonsai can also be placed on shallow pots lacking drainage, known as suiban, where the water stays can help enthusiasts arrange their bonsai to mimic natural landscapes. Bonsly represents the first type, hence the hole.

A Memorable and Notorious Card

Despite this logical explanation, though, Pokémon's creators appears somewhat excessively attentive with Bonsly's hole. Even merch such as Bonsly plush toys always incorporate a hollow cavern at the bottom of this plant Pokémon. It doesn't matter if the illustration of this particular Bonsly appears sad or content: It features hole. This hole represents a key element in Bonsly's appearance. Bonsly #71 became a meme in collector circles because of the famous hole, and also because of its unique position. Up until last year, this Bonsly card was the single type of Bonsly card included in the series where many of its monsters usually appear in various forms. Over a decade and a half, were you seeking a card of Bonsly, you needed to accept for hole Bonsly.

Emily's Dedication

"When I saw this card on the list of these cursed cards, I realized I discovered my new favorite," Hopkins shares in a message, noting that she was surprised that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to tell you her love of this particular card has no real value, but it didn't matter. The liking became a major fixation, with Emily purchasing all copies of this card that she could get her hands on. She quickly got into a routine of going to the nearby card store regularly, and earned the nickname by workers as "Bonsly Girl". They started putting any new Bonsly #71 cards it received exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards go for a few dollars, she notes, estimating that her total expenditure is approximately four hundred dollars only on the album itself.

The Financial Side

Currently, pristine Bonsly #71 cards may reach prices of $14.99. While that is a premium price, standard copies tend to cost starting at $4. This rise in cost roughly aligns 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, Hopkins's posts regarding the card have attracted countless views. As news of its existence expands further to new fans, it's possible that the value of these cards could keep rising. If nothing else, collectors note that trading card game values are skyrocketing currently in general.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Hopkins cannot be stopped, however.

"What's incredible remains that certain fans and fans from her channel have mailed their Bonsly cards to me to expand the set, and they will remain them secure indefinitely," Emily states. Far from being alarmed, viewers are amazed and encouraged by her Bonsly binder.

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