🔗 Share this article

The makers of Pokémon unveiled the world to the card series Diamond and Pearl edition during 2007, showcasing the Bonsly illustration. In this card, the fourth generation stone creature is portrayed by illustrator Harada-san in a somewhat awkward situation. On the card, the predecessor to Sudowoodo can be seen toppled and crying. But don't misunderstand, yet. Like its ability Fake Tears, the little creature aims to sway the other player's mood with the goal of lowering their offensive power. Iconic piece, right? Musician and harpist Emily Hopkins is a firm believer. She possesses an album with 305 cards of Bonsly as evidence.

The Entire Assortment and Its Highlights

However, that's not everything she has as well. She's got 20 reverse foil editions of the Bonsly card, showing the little guy in reflective foil covering everything except the primary illustration. The crown jewel, however, turns out to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic Bonsly edition. Certainly, it's far from a top-graded Charizard illustration. Yet, do you possess a goofy, close to mint Bonsly illustration kept forever immortalized? I thought as much.

Origins of the Collection

Hopkins has spent a large part of this year gathering all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She initially learned about the out-of-print card in recent months, during a discussion the notoriously odd cards in the compendium with an employee at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was a contender, just like the lonely Cubone on a park ride. However, the one that The sobbing Bonsly, or Bonsly #17, that caught Emily's focus.

The Design and Inspiration

The design of Bonsly is based on bonsai trees, which are often grown in containers with holes at the bottom. They are designed to aid growth, so much so that fans encourage each other to create openings on the bottom if holes are missing. Additionally, bonsai may sit on low dishes hole-free, called suiban, and the retained water may assist growers style their trees to mimic nature vistas. Bonsly fits the initial category, hence the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Even with this reasonable background, though, The Pokémon Company seems almost overly focused with Bonsly's hole. Even merchandise such as Bonsly plush toys always incorporate a cavity on the underside of the tree-like Pokémon. It doesn't matter if the illustration of Bonsly in question is crying or calm: It features the hole. The opening is a fundamental aspect in Bonsly's appearance. Card number 71 became a meme in collector circles both due to that drainage hole, in addition to its status. Until recently, this Bonsly card remained the sole iteration of Bonsly card printed in a game where numerous creatures are typically depicted in dozens of different ways. For sixteen years, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you were stuck with this specific design.

A Growing Obsession

"Upon noticing Bonsly in the list of these cursed cards, I knew I had found my new favorite," Emily states via email, mentioning how she felt astonished to have never seen it before. She admits freely to inform you her fondness for the Bonsly card has no real value, yet that didn't stop her. The appreciation evolved into an all-consuming hobby, as she acquired every Bonsly #71 card available to her. She quickly got into a routine of going to her favorite shop every week, and became known by workers as the Bonsly collector. The store began reserving all incoming this specific card that came in aside just for Hopkins. Most of these cards go for a few dollars, she mentions, estimating that she's spent approximately four hundred dollars just on the binder alone.

Market Trends and Value

Currently, pristine Bonsly #71 cards can cost up to nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, run-of-the-mill versions tend to cost starting at $4. This rise in cost more or less coincides with her starting point her collection in earnest, though there are likely multiple reasons. Even though this card is famous in the community, Emily's social media updates on it have also garnered millions of views. As awareness of its existence keeps growing to new fans, there's a chance the value of these cards might increase even more. If nothing else, investors say that trading card game values are skyrocketing in 2025 overall.

Unstoppable Determination

Nothing can halt her, yet.

"What's incredible is that a few followers and viewers from her channel have sent copies of Bonsly her way to expand the set, and I am keeping these cards protected always," Emily states. Far from being alarmed, viewers are amazed and encouraged by her collection.

"For years, I wished to attempt something similar," an observer mentions. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card