She's Collected Numerous of Pokémon Drainage Hole Cards, and You Can't Stop Her.
The makers of Pokémon released the world to the card series Diamond & Pearl set during 2007, showcasing the Bonsly card. On this artwork, Gen IV rock-type is portrayed by illustrator Harada-san in a, shall we say, compromising position. On the card, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo can be seen fallen and crying. But don't misunderstand, though. Like its ability Fake Tears, this Pokémon is trying to influence the foe's feelings to lowering their damage output. Unforgettable artwork, no? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins is a firm believer. She owns an album containing over 300 Bonsly illustrations as evidence.
Her Complete Set Including Rare Finds
That's not everything she has also. She's got 20 reverse foil copies of this particular card, showing the little guy with metallic accents all over except the central artwork. The most valuable item, however, turns out to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic Bonsly edition. Admittedly, it isn't a mint-condition Charizard from the base set. But do you have a quirky, almost perfect Bonsly illustration preserved forever immortalized? I thought as much.
How It All Began
Emily dedicated most of the current year accumulating all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She first heard of this rare card in recent months, while debating the most infamous cards among collectors with a worker at a local shop. The weeping Omanyte was in the running, as was the lonely Cubone at the theme park. Yet it was Crying Bonsly, also known as the seventeenth card, that grabbed Emily's focus.
Behind Bonsly's Look
Bonsly is obviously influenced from miniature trees, that are commonly placed in containers featuring holes for drainage. These are meant to aid growth, in fact enthusiasts encourage each other to create openings on the bottom when none are present. Additionally, bonsai may sit on low dishes lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, and the collected moisture could aid enthusiasts arrange their bonsai to mimic nature vistas. Bonsly represents the first type, thus the hole exists.
The Infamous Hole Card
Even with this reasonable background, however, The Pokémon Company seems almost overly focused with Bonsly's hole. Also, products like Bonsly plushes ensure they feature a hollow cavern at the bottom of this plant Pokémon. It doesn't matter if the depiction of Bonsly in question is crying or at ease: It's going to show a hole. This hole represents an intrinsic part of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 turned into an internet joke in collector circles both due to that drainage hole, as well as its status. Until recently, this Bonsly card was the only version of Bonsly available released in the TCG where many of its monsters usually appear in multiple editions. Over a decade and a half, if you wanted a card of Bonsly, you had to settle with this specific design.
Emily's Dedication
"Upon noticing this card on the list of infamous cards, I realized I discovered the one for me," Emily states via email, noting that it was unexpected to have never seen it before. She admits freely to tell you her fondness for the Bonsly card is completely useless, yet that didn't stop her. The liking turned into a full-blown obsession, as she acquired every Bonsly #71 card that she could get her hands on. She quickly got into a practice of going to the nearby card store regularly, and earned the nickname to the employees as the Bonsly fan. The store began setting aside any recently acquired Bonsly #71 cards they obtained only for her. The majority of these cost between $1 and $3, she says, approximating she's spent approximately four hundred dollars for the collection book.
Rising Prices
Currently, mint-condition the card may reach prices of $14.99. While that is a premium price, ordinary Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost starting at $4. That price increase roughly aligns with the time Emily began building her set, although there are probably multiple reasons. While it's true that Bonsly #71 is well-known in the community, Hopkins's posts about it have also garnered countless views. With information about this card continues to spread to a wider audience, it's possible that the price of Bonsly #71 cards might increase even more. If nothing else, investors say that TCG prices are skyrocketing in 2025 in general.
Unstoppable Determination
Emily remains undeterred, though.
"The wonderful part is that a few followers and fans on social media have sent copies of Bonsly to me to expand the set, and she is preserving these Bonsly safe forever," she declares. Instead of being put off, fans are amazed and encouraged by this project.
"I've actually always wanted to attempt something similar," an observer mentions. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card
