She Has Amassed Countless of Pokémon Cards with Holes, and Nothing Can Halt Her.
The makers of Pokémon released the world to the Pokémon TCG Diamond and Pearl set during 2007, including the Bonsly illustration. In this card, the fourth generation stone creature is shown by designer Harada-san in a, shall we say, compromising pose. In the image, this pre-evolution appears fallen and shedding tears. Don't be fooled, however. As its move the move Fake Tears, Bonsly is trying to sway the foe's feelings to decreasing their damage output. Memorable card, isn't it? Musician and harpist Emily is a firm believer. She owns a binder with 305 Bonsly illustrations to show for it.
Her Complete Set with Key Pieces
That's not everything she has also. She obtained a score of holo reverse copies of this particular card, which depicts the small Pokémon with shiny foil everywhere but the main image. The prized possession, yet, proves to be the PSA 6-graded reverse holo Bonsly edition. Sure, it isn't a mint-condition Charizard from the base set. Yet, do you possess a goofy, almost perfect Bonsly card maintained forever immortalized? I thought as much.
Origins of the Collection
Emily dedicated much of 2025 gathering each Bonsly card from 2007 she can possibly find. She discovered of this rare card at the start of the year, while talking about the most cursed cards in the Pokémon TCG with a staff member at a local shop. The weeping Omanyte was a contender, as was the forever alone Cubone in an amusement park. But it was Bonsly crying, also known as card number 17, that caught Hopkins's attention.
The Concept of Bonsly
Bonsly draws clear inspiration on bonsai trees, which are typically planted in containers that have drainage holes. These holes are intended to aid growth, in fact fans encourage each other to add holes in their containers if they don't already have one. Bonsai can also be placed on low dishes without holes, known as suiban, and the collected moisture can help enthusiasts arrange their bonsai to mimic outdoor scenes. Bonsly is the former, hence the hole.
The Infamous Hole Card
Even with this reasonable background, however, The company appears somewhat overly focused about the drainage feature. Even merchandise including stuffed Bonsly always incorporate a cavity below of the tree-like Pokémon. It doesn't matter if the illustration of Bonsly in question is crying or content: It's going to show a hole. The hole is a fundamental aspect of how Bonsly looks. This specific Bonsly card became a meme in collector circles because of its distinctive hole, as well as its status. Until recently, the card was the only version of Bonsly available released in the TCG where many of its monsters are commonly shown in dozens of different ways. For sixteen years, were you seeking a card of Bonsly, you had to settle with the hole version.
Emily's Dedication
"When I saw Bonsly in the list of oddball cards, I felt I had found the one for me," Emily states in a message, mentioning how it was unexpected that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to state her fondness for Bonsly #71 has no real value, yet that didn't stop her. The liking turned into an all-consuming hobby, with Emily purchasing all copies of this card that she could get her hands on. She quickly got into a practice of visiting her favorite shop regularly, and was dubbed among the staff as "Bonsly Girl". The store began putting any new Bonsly #71 cards it received exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards go for a few dollars, she notes, calculating that she's spent somewhere around $400 only on the album itself.
Market Trends and Value
Currently, mint-condition the card can cost up to around fifteen dollars. Although that is expensive, standard copies are often priced at four dollars or more. This rise in cost roughly aligns with the time Emily began building her set, though there are likely various influences. Although this card is famous with enthusiasts, Emily's social media updates on it have received millions of views. With information regarding Bonsly #71 continues to spread to a wider audience, there's a chance the value of these cards might increase even more. If nothing else, investors mention how card market costs are soaring this year in general.
No Signs of Stopping
Emily remains undeterred, though.
"The amazing thing is that a few followers and enthusiasts on social media have mailed copies of Bonsly to Emily for her album, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," Emily states. Instead of being put off, viewers are amazed and encouraged by her collection.
"I've actually always wanted to try this," an observer mentions. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card
