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Pokémon creators unveiled the world to the Pokémon TCG Diamond & Pearl expansion during 2007, featuring a Bonsly trading card. In this card, Gen IV stone creature is shown by illustrator Midori Harada in a, shall we say, compromising situation. On the card, this pre-evolution is depicted toppled and shedding tears. Don't be fooled, yet. Like its ability the move Fake Tears, the little creature is trying to sway the other player's mood to lowering their damage output. Unforgettable artwork, no? Harp player Emily is a firm believer. She owns a binder with 305 Bonsly illustrations to prove it.

The Full Collection Including Rare Finds

But that isn't the whole collection also. She's got a score of holo reverse copies of this particular card, portraying the small Pokémon in reflective foil everywhere but the main image. The crown jewel, however, proves to be the PSA 6-graded reverse holographic Bonsly edition. Admittedly, it isn't a mint-condition Charizard illustration. However, can you claim a goofy, nearly pristine card of Bonsly maintained in all its splendor? I didn't think so.

The Start of the Obsession

Emily dedicated much of 2025 stockpiling every 2007 Bonsly card that she could locate. She discovered of this rare card in recent months, during a discussion the notoriously odd cards among collectors with a worker at her favorite card shop. Crying Omanyte was a contender, as was the lonely Cubone on a park ride. But it was The sobbing Bonsly, aka the seventeenth card, which captured Emily's focus.

The Concept of Bonsly

Bonsly draws clear inspiration from miniature trees, which are often grown in containers with holes at the bottom. They are designed to support healthy development, so much so that enthusiasts suggest to peers to create openings into their pots if holes are missing. They can also be positioned in shallow containers without holes, known as suiban, and the collected moisture can help growers decorate their plants to resemble nature vistas. Bonsly fits the initial category, thus the hole exists.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Although this makes sense, yet, Pokémon's creators seems almost overly focused with Bonsly's hole. Even merchandise like Bonsly plushes always incorporate a cavity below of Bonsly. Regardless whether the portrayal of Bonsly in question appears sad or at ease: It will display hole. This hole represents an intrinsic part of how Bonsly looks. This specific Bonsly card became a meme in collector circles both due to the famous hole, and also because of its unique position. Until recently, the card remained the sole iteration of Bonsly card printed in a game where numerous creatures usually appear in various forms. Over a decade and a half, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you had to settle with the hole version.

Emily's Dedication

"When I saw Bonsly among the selections of oddball cards, I felt I located the one for me," she explains via email, noting that she was surprised to have never seen it before. She'll be the first to inform you her fondness for this particular card serves no practical purpose, but it didn't matter. The initial interest became a full-blown obsession, with Emily purchasing each available Bonsly card that she could get her hands on. She quickly got into a practice of visiting her local card shop every week, and earned the nickname among the staff as the Bonsly fan. The store began reserving all incoming this specific card it received aside just for Hopkins. Typically, these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she mentions, estimating that she has invested somewhere around $400 just on the binder alone.

Market Trends and Value

Currently, mint-condition the card may reach prices of $14.99. Although that is expensive, run-of-the-mill copies tend to cost $4 and above. The upward trend roughly aligns with when Hopkins started collecting seriously, though there are likely various influences. While it's true that this card is famous among collectors, Hopkins's posts on it have attracted a huge audience. With information of its existence keeps growing to new fans, it's possible that the value of these cards may continue to shoot up. Regardless, enthusiasts note that TCG prices are skyrocketing in 2025 in general.

No Signs of Stopping

Nothing can halt her, yet.

"The wonderful part remains that some supporters and viewers of the YouTube channel have shipped their Bonsly cards to Emily for her album, and I am keeping them secure indefinitely," Emily states. Rather than recoil in horror, fans are impressed and inspired by her collection.

"I've actually always wanted to try this," an observer mentions. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card