She's Gathered Countless of Pokemon Cards with Holes, and She's Unstoppable.

The makers of Pokémon introduced fans to the card series Diamond & Pearl edition in the year 2007, featuring a Bonsly trading card. Within this depiction, Gen IV stone creature is shown by illustrator the talented Harada in an unusual position. On the card, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears knocked over and shedding tears. Don't be fooled, yet. Like its ability the move Fake Tears, this Pokémon attempts to manipulate their opponent's emotions in the hopes of lowering their damage output. Iconic piece, no? Musician and harpist Emily Hopkins absolutely agrees. She possesses a collection book filled with 305 Bonsly illustrations to show for it.

The Full Collection and Its Highlights

That's not the whole collection either. She obtained 20 reverse holographic editions of this particular card, showing the small Pokémon in reflective foil covering everything except the main image. The prized possession, however, turns out to be the professionally graded PSA 6 reverse holographic Bonsly edition. Certainly, it isn't a high-grade Charizard from the base set. Yet, do you possess a quirky, close to mint Bonsly card preserved in its eternal glory? I didn't think so.

Origins of the Collection

Hopkins has spent most of the current year gathering every 2007 Bonsly card that she could locate. She discovered about the out-of-print card earlier this year, while talking about the most infamous cards in the compendium with an employee in a nearby store. The weeping Omanyte was in the running, along with Cubone by itself at the theme park. Yet it was Crying Bonsly, aka Bonsly #17, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.

Behind Bonsly's Look

The design of Bonsly is based by bonsai plants, which are often grown in pots featuring holes for drainage. These are meant to support healthy development, so much so that growers suggest to peers to drill holes on the bottom if holes are missing. Additionally, bonsai may sit in shallow containers lacking drainage, known as suiban, where the water stays could aid enthusiasts decorate their plants to mimic outdoor scenes. Bonsly is the former, thus the hole exists.

The Infamous Hole Card

Even with this reasonable background, yet, The Pokémon Company seems almost overly focused with Bonsly's hole. Also, products including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature an empty space below of Bonsly. It makes no difference whether the portrayal of this particular Bonsly is weeping or content: It's going to show a hole. The hole is a key element in Bonsly's appearance. Card number 71 turned into an internet joke among fans because of that drainage hole, as well as its unique position. Up until last year, the card remained the sole iteration of Bonsly card released in the TCG where many of its monsters usually appear in various forms. Over a decade and a half, should you desire this Pokémon card, you needed to accept with the hole version.

The Collector's Passion

"When I saw Bonsly in the list of these cursed cards, I realized I discovered the one for me," she explains over email, noting that she was surprised to have never seen it before. She admits freely to state her love of this particular card has no real value, yet that didn't stop her. The appreciation evolved into a full-blown obsession, as she acquired each available Bonsly card available to her. She soon developed a practice of visiting the nearby card store regularly, and became known by workers as "Bonsly Girl". The store began reserving all incoming Bonsly #71 cards that came in exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards go for a few dollars, she notes, approximating she has invested somewhere around $400 for the collection book.

Market Trends and Value

Nowadays, mint-condition this Bonsly card can cost up to around fifteen dollars. While that is a premium price, ordinary copies usually go for four dollars or more. The upward trend roughly aligns with her starting point collecting seriously, although there are probably several factors at play. Even though the card is notorious with enthusiasts, Emily's social media updates about it have attracted countless views. With information regarding Bonsly #71 continues to spread to new fans, there's a chance the price of Bonsly #71 cards could keep rising. If nothing else, collectors mention how trading card game values are climbing this year across the board.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Hopkins cannot be stopped, though.

"What's incredible remains that some supporters and viewers from her channel have sent copies of Bonsly to Emily for her album, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," Hopkins says. Far from being alarmed, viewers are amazed and encouraged by her collection.

"I've actually always wanted to do this," one commenter says. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card