She Has Amassed Hundreds of Pokémon Cards with Holes, and You Can't Stop Her.
The makers of Pokémon introduced fans to the card series Diamond and Pearl expansion back in 2007, including the Bonsly illustration. Within this depiction, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is portrayed by artist Harada-san in a, shall we say, compromising situation. In the image, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo is depicted knocked over and weeping. But don't misunderstand, yet. Similar to its attack the move Fake Tears, Bonsly attempts to influence their opponent's emotions in the hopes of reducing their offensive power. Iconic piece, right? Harp player Emily is a firm believer. She owns a collection book containing over 300 Bonsly illustrations to show for it.
The Entire Assortment with Key Pieces
But that isn't everything she has also. She's got 20 reverse foil editions of this particular card, portraying the small Pokémon in reflective foil all over except the main image. The most valuable item, however, turns out to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic Bonsly card. Certainly, it's not a top-graded Charizard illustration. But do you have an amusing, nearly pristine Bonsly card maintained in all its splendor? Probably not.
Origins of the Collection
She invested a large part of this year stockpiling every 2007 Bonsly card she can possibly find. She initially learned about the out-of-print card at the start of the year, while debating the notoriously odd cards in the Pokémon TCG with a staff member at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was considered, along with Cubone by itself at the theme park. Yet it was Crying Bonsly, also known as Bonsly #17, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.
The Design and Inspiration
Bonsly is obviously influenced from miniature trees, which are often grown in pots that have drainage holes. These are meant to support healthy development, so much so that growers suggest to peers to drill holes in their containers if they don't already have one. They can also be positioned on shallow pots without holes, known as suiban, where the water stays may assist growers style their trees to resemble outdoor scenes. Bonsly represents the first type, thus the hole exists.
The Infamous Hole Card
Despite this logical explanation, though, The Pokémon Company appears somewhat overly focused about the drainage feature. Even merchandise like Bonsly plushes ensure they feature a hollow cavern on the underside of the tree-like Pokémon. Regardless if the depiction of the Pokémon is weeping or calm: It features a hole. The hole is a key element of how Bonsly looks. Card number 71 gained meme status among fans thanks to the famous hole, in addition to its unique position. Up until last year, Bonsly #71 was the only version featuring Bonsly printed in a game in which most Pokémon are typically depicted in dozens of different ways. For 16 years, should you desire this Pokémon card, you had to settle for hole Bonsly.
The Collector's Passion
"When I saw Bonsly in the list of oddball cards, I knew I had found my new favorite," Hopkins shares over email, adding that it was unexpected that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to inform you her love of Bonsly #71 serves no practical purpose, but it didn't matter. The initial interest evolved into an all-consuming hobby, as she acquired all copies of this card that she could get her hands on. She soon developed a routine of going to her favorite shop every week, and was dubbed by workers as the Bonsly collector. The shop started setting aside any recently acquired this specific card they obtained only for her. Most of these cards go for a few dollars, she mentions, calculating that she's spent somewhere around $400 for the collection book.
The Financial Side
Nowadays, mint-condition the card may reach prices of around fifteen dollars. While that is a premium price, run-of-the-mill versions tend to cost $4 and above. This rise in cost corresponds to when Hopkins started collecting seriously, but it's possible that various influences. Even though Bonsly #71 is well-known among collectors, Hopkins's posts regarding the card have received millions of views. As awareness about this card keeps growing to new fans, there's a chance the value of these cards might increase even more. Regardless, collectors say that card market costs are climbing this year across the board.
Her Relentless Pursuit
Emily remains undeterred, though.
"What's incredible is that certain fans and fans from her channel have shipped copies of Bonsly her way to expand the set, and she is preserving these cards protected always," Hopkins says. Far from being alarmed, viewers are impressed and inspired by her collection.
"For years, I wished to do this," a viewer notes. "Purchase all of a common card|every copy of a common card
