She's Collected Countless of Pokémon Cards with Holes, and You Can't Stop Her.
The Pokémon Company introduced fans to the Pokémon TCG Diamond & Pearl edition back in 2007, showcasing the Bonsly illustration. In this card, the Gen 4 rock-type is shown by illustrator Midori Harada in a somewhat awkward pose. In the image, the predecessor to Sudowoodo is depicted fallen and weeping. However, don't mistake this, however. Like its ability the move Fake Tears, this Pokémon is trying to influence their opponent's emotions in the hopes of lowering their damage output. Unforgettable artwork, no? Musician and harpist Emily Hopkins absolutely agrees. And she's got a binder containing over 300 cards of Bonsly to prove it.
The Full Collection and Its Highlights
That's not the full extent either. She's got 20 holo reverse copies of this particular card, showing the tyke with shiny foil all over except the central artwork. The most valuable item, however, is the professionally graded PSA 6 reverse holographic Bonsly card. Certainly, it isn't a mint-condition original Charizard card. Yet, do you possess an amusing, almost perfect Bonsly illustration preserved forever immortalized? I thought as much.
How It All Began
Hopkins has spent most of the current year gathering each Bonsly card from 2007 available on the market. She first heard regarding this discontinued card at the start of the year, while debating the notoriously odd cards among collectors with an employee at her favorite card shop. Omanyte in tears was a contender, along with the forever alone Cubone in an amusement park. But it was Bonsly crying, aka Bonsly #17, that grabbed Emily's focus.
The Design and Inspiration
The design of Bonsly is based from miniature trees, that are commonly placed in containers with holes at the bottom. They are designed to aid growth, to the extent that enthusiasts advise one another to drill holes in their containers if they don't already have one. They can also be positioned on low dishes lacking drainage, called suiban, and the collected moisture could aid growers style their trees to mimic outdoor scenes. Bonsly fits the initial category, thus the hole exists.
Why Bonsly Stands Out
Despite this logical explanation, yet, The company looks a bit a little too concerned with Bonsly's hole. Even merch like Bonsly plushes always incorporate an empty space below of this plant Pokémon. It makes no difference whether the portrayal of this particular Bonsly is crying or calm: It's going to show the hole. This hole represents a fundamental aspect of Bonsly's design. This specific Bonsly card became a meme in collector circles both due to the famous hole, as well as its unique position. Until recently, Bonsly #71 was the only version of Bonsly available released in the TCG where numerous creatures are typically depicted in multiple editions. For sixteen years, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you needed to accept with this specific design.
The Collector's Passion
"Upon noticing Bonsly in the list of oddball cards, I felt I discovered my new favorite," Hopkins shares in a message, noting that she was surprised to have missed it until then. She'll be the first to tell you her fondness for the Bonsly card is completely useless, but it didn't matter. The initial interest turned into a major fixation, as she acquired each available Bonsly card that she could get her hands on. She adopted a routine of going to the nearby card store on a weekly basis, and became known by workers as the Bonsly fan. They started setting aside any recently acquired copies of Bonsly #71 that came in exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards cost between $1 and $3, she says, estimating that she has invested approximately four hundred dollars just on the binder alone.
Market Trends and Value
Currently, excellent this Bonsly card can cost up to nearly $15. Although that is expensive, ordinary versions tend to cost starting at $4. The upward trend more or less coincides with when Hopkins started building her set, but it's possible that various influences. Even though Bonsly #71 is well-known with enthusiasts, Emily's social media updates on it have received millions of views. As news regarding Bonsly #71 expands further to a wider audience, it is likely that the price of Bonsly #71 cards could keep rising. Regardless, collectors mention how card market costs are climbing currently in general.
Her Relentless Pursuit
Hopkins cannot be stopped, though.
"What's incredible is that certain fans and fans on social media have sent copies of Bonsly her way to expand the set, and I am keeping these Bonsly safe forever," she declares. Instead of being put off, fans feel admiration and motivation by her collection.
"For years, I wished to do this," one commenter says. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card
