She's Gathered Countless of Pokemon Cards with Holes, and Nothing Can Halt Her.
The Pokémon Company introduced collectors to the trading card game Diamond & Pearl edition in the year 2007, featuring a Bonsly trading card. On this artwork, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is shown by illustrator Midori Harada in a, shall we say, compromising position. In the image, this pre-evolution appears fallen and crying. But don't misunderstand, yet. Like its ability Fake Tears, this Pokémon attempts to manipulate the other player's mood to lowering their damage output. Memorable card, right? Harp player Emily is a firm believer. She owns an album with 305 Bonsly illustrations as evidence.
The Full Collection with Key Pieces
That's not the full extent also. She obtained 20 holo reverse versions of this particular card, showing the little guy with shiny foil all over except the main image. The crown jewel, though, turns out to be the professionally graded PSA 6 holo reverse of Bonsly. Sure, it's far from a top-graded Charizard illustration. Yet, do you possess a goofy, almost perfect Bonsly illustration preserved in all its splendor? I didn't think so.
The Start of the Obsession
Hopkins has spent much of 2025 stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year available on the market. She initially learned regarding this discontinued card earlier this year, while talking about the most cursed cards in the Pokémon TCG with an employee at a local shop. The weeping Omanyte was a contender, as was the forever alone Cubone in an amusement park. However, the one that The sobbing Bonsly, or the seventeenth card, which captured Hopkins's attention.
The Concept of Bonsly
Bonsly draws clear inspiration on bonsai trees, which are often grown in containers with holes at the bottom. These are meant to support healthy development, to the extent that growers advise one another to drill holes into their pots if they don't already have one. They can also be positioned in shallow containers lacking drainage, known as suiban, where the water stays can help growers arrange their bonsai to mimic outdoor scenes. Bonsly represents the first type, thus the hole exists.
Why Bonsly Stands Out
Even with this reasonable background, yet, Pokémon's creators looks a bit overly focused with Bonsly's hole. Even merchandise like Bonsly plushes always incorporate an empty space on the underside of this plant Pokémon. It doesn't matter whether the portrayal of Bonsly in question is crying or content: It features the hole. The hole is a fundamental aspect in Bonsly's appearance. Bonsly #71 became a meme in collector circles thanks to the famous hole, and also because of its rarity. For years before, the card remained the sole iteration of Bonsly available printed in a game in which most Pokémon are commonly shown in multiple editions. For 16 years, if you wanted a card of Bonsly, you were stuck for hole Bonsly.
The Collector's Passion
"Upon noticing Bonsly in the list of infamous cards, I knew I had found my new favorite," Hopkins shares in a message, mentioning how it was unexpected that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She is quick to tell you her fondness for the Bonsly card has no real value, yet that didn't stop her. The initial interest turned into a major fixation, as Hopkins bought all copies of this card she could possibly find. She soon developed a routine of going to her local card shop regularly, and earned the nickname to the employees as the Bonsly collector. The shop started reserving all incoming this specific card it received only for her. Typically, these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she says, approximating she's spent about $400 just on the binder alone.
The Financial Side
These days, pristine this Bonsly card can cost up to nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, run-of-the-mill Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost four dollars or more. This rise in cost more or less coincides with when Hopkins started her collection in earnest, but it's possible that several factors at play. Even though this card is famous with enthusiasts, her online content regarding the card have attracted a huge audience. As news of its existence continues to spread to new fans, there's a chance their market price could keep rising. If nothing else, enthusiasts say that trading card game values are soaring this year in general.
Unstoppable Determination
Emily remains undeterred, though.
"What's incredible is that some supporters and enthusiasts of the YouTube channel have sent their Bonsly cards to me to expand the set, and I am keeping these cards protected always," she declares. Far from being alarmed, fans are amazed and encouraged by her Bonsly binder.
"I've actually always wanted to do this," one commenter says. "Purchase all of a common card|every copy of a common card
