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The makers of Pokémon unveiled the world to the card series Diamond & Pearl edition back in 2007, showcasing a Bonsly trading card. In this card, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is portrayed by designer Midori Harada in a, shall we say, compromising situation. Here, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo appears toppled and shedding tears. However, don't mistake this, yet. Like its ability the move Fake Tears, the little creature is trying to sway the other player's mood with the goal of reducing their offensive power. Unforgettable artwork, right? Musician and harpist Hopkins absolutely agrees. She possesses a binder filled with 305 Bonsly illustrations as evidence.

The Full Collection Including Rare Finds

That's not everything she has as well. She has acquired a score of reverse holographic editions of the Bonsly card, which depicts the little guy with metallic accents covering everything except the primary illustration. The most valuable item, however, turns out to be the PSA 6-graded reverse holo Bonsly card. Sure, it's not a high-grade Charizard from the base set. Yet, do you possess a goofy, almost perfect Bonsly card kept forever immortalized? I didn't think so.

Origins of the Collection

She invested most of the current year gathering every 2007 Bonsly card available on the market. She discovered regarding this discontinued card at the start of the year, while debating the most infamous cards in the compendium with an employee in a nearby store. Omanyte in tears was a contender, along with the forever alone Cubone in an amusement park. Yet it was The sobbing Bonsly, also known as the seventeenth card, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.

The Design and Inspiration

The design of Bonsly is based by bonsai plants, that are commonly placed in planters that have drainage holes. These holes are intended to help the plant grow, in fact growers advise one another to add holes into their pots if they don't already have one. They can also be positioned on shallow pots lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, and the retained water may assist growers style their trees to mimic outdoor scenes. Bonsly is the former, thus the hole exists.

A Memorable and Notorious Card

Despite this logical explanation, though, The Pokémon Company seems almost excessively attentive regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products such as Bonsly plush toys make sure to include a cavity on the underside of this plant Pokémon. It makes no difference whether the portrayal of Bonsly in question is weeping or calm: It features the hole. The hole is an intrinsic part of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 turned into an internet joke within the community because of that drainage hole, in addition to its status. For years before, the card was the only version of Bonsly card released in the TCG in which most Pokémon are typically depicted in dozens of different ways. For sixteen years, should you desire this Pokémon card, you needed to accept for hole Bonsly.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered this card on the list of these cursed cards, I realized I had found my favorite one," Hopkins shares over email, noting that it was unexpected to have never seen it before. She is quick to tell you her love of this particular card has no real value, yet that didn't stop her. The appreciation became a major fixation, as she acquired each available Bonsly card available to her. She quickly got into a practice of stopping by her favorite shop regularly, and was dubbed by workers as the Bonsly fan. The shop started setting aside any recently acquired copies of Bonsly #71 it received exclusively for Emily. The majority of these cost between $1 and $3, she notes, estimating that she's spent about $400 for the collection book.

The Financial Side

These days, excellent the card may reach prices of $14.99. While that is a premium price, standard copies tend to cost four dollars or more. This rise in cost more or less coincides with her starting point her collection in earnest, although there are probably various influences. Although this card is famous among collectors, Hopkins's posts regarding the card have also garnered millions of views. As awareness regarding Bonsly #71 expands further to new fans, it's possible that the price of Bonsly #71 cards could keep rising. If nothing else, enthusiasts say that card market costs are climbing this year across the board.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Hopkins cannot be stopped, however.

"What's incredible is that some supporters and viewers from her channel have shipped copies of Bonsly her way to add to my collection, and they will remain these cards protected always," Hopkins says. Instead of being put off, viewers are amazed and encouraged by her collection.

"For years, I wished to try this," an observer mentions. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card