She's Collected Numerous of Pokémon Drainage Hole Cards, and You Can't Stop Her.

The Pokémon Company unveiled collectors to the card series Diamond & Pearl set back in 2007, showcasing the Bonsly card. In this card, the fourth generation stone creature is portrayed by illustrator Harada-san in an unusual position. In the image, this pre-evolution appears toppled and crying. But don't misunderstand, however. As its move Fake Tears, Bonsly is trying to manipulate their opponent's emotions in the hopes of reducing their offensive power. Iconic piece, right? Musician and harpist Hopkins is a firm believer. She owns a binder filled with 305 Bonsly illustrations to prove it.

The Full Collection and Its Highlights

However, that's not the whole collection as well. She's got 20 reverse foil copies of the Bonsly card, portraying the little guy with metallic accents covering everything except the main image. The most valuable item, however, turns out to be the professionally graded PSA 6 reverse holographic Bonsly edition. Certainly, it's not a high-grade original Charizard card. Yet, do you possess a goofy, nearly pristine Bonsly illustration kept in all its splendor? I thought as much.

How It All Began

Hopkins has spent most of the current year stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year available on the market. She first heard regarding this discontinued card earlier this year, while debating the most cursed cards in the compendium with a worker at a local shop. Omanyte in tears was a contender, along with Cubone by itself at the theme park. However, the one that Bonsly crying, also known as card number 17, which captured Emily's focus.

The Design and Inspiration

Bonsly is obviously influenced on bonsai trees, that are commonly placed in planters that have drainage holes. These are meant to support healthy development, to the extent that fans encourage each other to drill holes in their containers if holes are missing. They can also be positioned on low dishes lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, where the water stays could aid growers arrange their bonsai to look like natural landscapes. Bonsly fits the initial category, thus the hole exists.

The Infamous Hole Card

Despite this logical explanation, yet, The company looks a bit a little too concerned regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products including stuffed Bonsly always incorporate a cavity on the underside of the tree-like Pokémon. It makes no difference if the illustration of this particular Bonsly is crying or calm: It will display the hole. This hole represents a key element of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 turned into an internet joke in collector circles thanks to the famous hole, and also because of its status. Up until last year, Bonsly #71 remained the sole iteration featuring Bonsly printed in a game where numerous creatures are commonly shown in various forms. For 16 years, should you desire a Bonsly card, you were stuck with this specific design.

The Collector's Passion

"When I saw Bonsly among the selections of these cursed cards, I felt I had found the one for me," Emily states via email, noting that it was unexpected to have missed it until then. She admits freely to inform you her passion for this particular card serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The initial interest turned into an all-consuming hobby, as Hopkins bought each available Bonsly card she could possibly find. She adopted a practice of stopping by her favorite shop on a weekly basis, and earned the nickname to the employees as "Bonsly Girl". The shop started reserving all incoming Bonsly #71 cards they obtained aside just for Hopkins. The majority of these are priced at one to three dollars, she notes, calculating that her total expenditure is about $400 just on the binder alone.

The Financial Side

Currently, pristine the card might be valued at around fifteen dollars. While that's on the higher end, run-of-the-mill copies usually go for four dollars or more. The upward trend more or less coincides with the time Emily began building her set, but it's possible that various influences. Although the card is notorious among collectors, Hopkins's posts about it have attracted a huge audience. As awareness regarding Bonsly #71 expands further among more people, it is likely that the price of Bonsly #71 cards may continue to shoot up. At the very least, collectors note that trading card game values are skyrocketing this year overall.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Nothing can halt her, yet.

"The wonderful part remains that some supporters and enthusiasts of the YouTube channel have sent copies of Bonsly her way to add to my collection, and they will remain these Bonsly safe forever," Hopkins says. Rather than recoil in horror, fans are amazed and encouraged by her Bonsly binder.

"I've long desired to try this," a viewer notes. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card