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The Pokémon Company unveiled collectors to the card series DP expansion during 2007, featuring the Bonsly card. On this artwork, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is shown by artist Harada-san in an unusual pose. In the image, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo is depicted knocked over and weeping. But don't misunderstand, though. Like its ability Fake Tears suggests, the little creature attempts to influence the other player's mood in the hopes of lowering their offensive power. Iconic piece, isn't it? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins certainly thinks so. And she's got an album filled with 305 cards of Bonsly to show for it.

The Entire Assortment Including Rare Finds

But that isn't everything she has either. She obtained twenty holo reverse copies of this particular card, showing the little guy with metallic accents covering everything except the central artwork. The crown jewel, yet, proves to be the PSA 6-graded holo reverse of Bonsly. Admittedly, it's far from a top-graded Charizard illustration. However, can you claim an amusing, nearly pristine Bonsly card kept in all its splendor? I thought as much.

How It All Began

She invested much of 2025 accumulating each Bonsly card from 2007 available on the market. She first heard of this rare card earlier this year, while debating the most cursed cards among collectors with an employee at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was a contender, along with the forever alone Cubone on a park ride. Yet it was The sobbing Bonsly, aka Bonsly #17, that caught Emily's focus.

The Design and Inspiration

Bonsly draws clear inspiration by bonsai plants, which are often grown in containers featuring holes for drainage. These are meant to support healthy development, in fact fans suggest to peers to drill holes in their containers if they don't already have one. They can also be positioned on low dishes without holes, known as suiban, and the collected moisture may assist enthusiasts style their trees to resemble natural landscapes. Bonsly represents the first type, hence the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Despite this logical explanation, however, Pokémon's creators looks a bit overly focused regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature an empty space at the bottom of Bonsly. Regardless if the illustration of this particular Bonsly is crying or at ease: It will display a hole. The hole is a fundamental aspect of Bonsly's design. Bonsly #71 gained meme status in collector circles thanks to that drainage hole, in addition to its rarity. Until recently, Bonsly #71 was the only version featuring Bonsly printed in a game where many of its monsters usually appear in multiple editions. For sixteen years, if you wanted a Bonsly card, you were stuck for hole Bonsly.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered Bonsly in the list of oddball cards, I realized I discovered the one for me," she explains via email, noting that she felt astonished to have missed it until then. She admits freely to tell you her passion for Bonsly #71 serves no practical purpose, but she didn't care. The appreciation became a major fixation, as Hopkins bought every Bonsly #71 card available to her. She soon developed a routine of visiting the nearby card store on a weekly basis, and earned the nickname to the employees as the Bonsly collector. The shop started setting aside any recently acquired copies of Bonsly #71 it received aside just for Hopkins. Typically, these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she says, approximating her total expenditure is somewhere around $400 for the collection book.

Market Trends and Value

Currently, mint-condition Bonsly #71 cards can cost up to nearly $15. Although that is expensive, run-of-the-mill copies are often priced at $4 and above. This rise in cost more or less coincides with when Hopkins started collecting seriously, but it's possible that several factors at play. Even though Bonsly #71 is well-known among collectors, Emily's social media updates regarding the card have received a huge audience. 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, collectors mention how card market costs are climbing in 2025 across the board.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Hopkins cannot be stopped, yet.

"The wonderful part remains that certain fans and enthusiasts from her channel have mailed copies of Bonsly to me for her album, and they will remain these Bonsly safe forever," Emily states. Instead of being put off, fans are amazed and encouraged by this project.

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