She Has Amassed Countless of Pokemon Hole Cards, and She's Unstoppable.
The makers of Pokémon introduced collectors to the card series Diamond and Pearl set during 2007, showcasing the Bonsly illustration. Within this depiction, the fourth generation stone creature is portrayed by designer the talented Harada in an unusual situation. In the image, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo can be seen knocked over and shedding tears. Don't be fooled, though. As its move the move Fake Tears, Bonsly aims to influence the foe's feelings with the goal of lowering their offensive power. Iconic piece, no? Musician and harpist Emily Hopkins absolutely agrees. She possesses an album filled with 305 cards of Bonsly to prove it.
The Entire Assortment Including Rare Finds
However, that's not the full extent either. She obtained a score of holo reverse copies of this particular card, which depicts the tyke in reflective foil all over except the primary illustration. The most valuable item, though, turns out to be the PSA 6-graded holo reverse Bonsly edition. Sure, it's not a mint-condition Charizard illustration. However, can you claim a goofy, close to mint Bonsly illustration preserved forever immortalized? I didn't think so.
How It All Began
Hopkins has spent a large part of this year gathering all available Bonsly cards from that year available on the market. She initially learned about the out-of-print card in recent months, while debating the notoriously odd cards in the Pokémon TCG with an employee at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was considered, just like the forever alone Cubone on a park ride. But it was Crying Bonsly, aka card number 17, that grabbed Emily's focus.
The Design and Inspiration
Bonsly draws clear inspiration from miniature trees, which are typically planted in planters with holes at the bottom. They are designed to support healthy development, so much so that growers advise one another to add holes in their containers when none are present. Bonsai can also be placed in shallow containers without holes, known as suiban, where the water stays could aid enthusiasts style their trees to mimic nature vistas. Bonsly fits the initial category, which explains the hole.
The Infamous Hole Card
Even with this reasonable background, though, The Pokémon Company looks a bit a little too concerned about the drainage feature. Even merchandise such as Bonsly plush toys make sure to include a hollow cavern at the bottom of Bonsly. It makes no difference if the depiction of this particular Bonsly is crying or calm: It's going to show a hole. This hole represents a fundamental aspect of how Bonsly looks. Bonsly #71 gained meme status in collector circles thanks to its distinctive hole, and also because of its rarity. Until recently, this Bonsly card was the only version featuring Bonsly printed in a game where numerous creatures are commonly shown in multiple editions. For 16 years, were you seeking a Bonsly card, you were stuck with the hole version.
A Growing Obsession
"When I discovered Bonsly among the selections of oddball cards, I realized I had found my favorite one," she explains in a message, adding that she was surprised that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She is quick to state her passion for this particular card is completely useless, yet that didn't stop her. The initial interest turned into a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought all copies of this card that she could get her hands on. She adopted a habit of going to the nearby card store on a weekly basis, and became known to the employees as "Bonsly Girl". They started putting any new Bonsly #71 cards it received exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards cost between $1 and $3, she says, calculating that she's spent about $400 just on the binder alone.
Rising Prices
Nowadays, pristine the card can cost up to nearly $15. While that is a premium price, run-of-the-mill copies are often priced at $4 and above. This rise in cost corresponds to when Hopkins started building her set, although there are probably several factors at play. Even though Bonsly #71 is well-known in the community, her online content regarding the card have attracted a huge audience. As awareness regarding Bonsly #71 continues to spread to a wider audience, it's possible that the value of these cards could keep rising. If nothing else, collectors mention how card market costs are soaring in 2025 overall.
No Signs of Stopping
Hopkins cannot be stopped, though.
"The wonderful part is some supporters and enthusiasts on social media have shipped their own Bonsly cards to me to add to my collection, and they will remain these Bonsly safe forever," Hopkins says. Rather than recoil in horror, the audience feel admiration and motivation by her Bonsly binder.
"I've actually always wanted to try this," an observer mentions. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card
