The Pokémon Company unveiled collectors to the trading card game Diamond and Pearl edition back in 2007, including a Bonsly trading card. On this artwork, Gen IV rock-type appears by artist Midori Harada in a, shall we say, compromising position. On the card, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo is depicted toppled and weeping. But don't misunderstand, however. Similar to its attack the move Fake Tears, Bonsly is trying to manipulate their opponent's emotions in the hopes of reducing their offensive power. Unforgettable artwork, right? Harp player Hopkins absolutely agrees. She owns a collection book containing over 300 cards of Bonsly to prove it.
However, that's not the whole collection as well. She has acquired a score of holo reverse editions of this particular card, which depicts the tyke with metallic accents covering everything except the main image. The prized possession, though, is the PSA 6-graded reverse holo Bonsly card. Certainly, it's far from a top-graded Charizard from the base set. However, can you claim a quirky, nearly pristine card of Bonsly preserved in its eternal glory? I didn't think so.
Hopkins has spent most of the current year accumulating all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She first heard regarding this discontinued card earlier this year, during a discussion the most cursed cards in the Pokémon TCG with a worker at her favorite card shop. Omanyte in tears was a contender, just like the forever alone Cubone on a park ride. But it was The sobbing Bonsly, aka card number 17, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.
Bonsly is obviously influenced from miniature trees, that are commonly placed in pots with holes at the bottom. These holes are intended to aid growth, to the extent that fans encourage each other to drill holes in their containers if holes are missing. Additionally, bonsai may sit in shallow containers lacking drainage, called suiban, where the water stays can help caretakers decorate their plants to resemble nature vistas. Bonsly fits the initial category, hence the hole.
Even with this reasonable background, yet, Pokémon's creators appears somewhat a little too concerned regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products including stuffed Bonsly always incorporate a cavity at the bottom of Bonsly. Regardless whether the portrayal of Bonsly in question appears sad or calm: It will display the hole. The opening is a fundamental aspect of how Bonsly looks. This specific Bonsly card became a meme in collector circles thanks to its distinctive hole, and also because of its unique position. For years before, Bonsly #71 was the single type of Bonsly card released in the TCG in which most Pokémon are commonly shown in dozens of different ways. For sixteen years, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you needed to accept for hole Bonsly.
"When I saw this card on the list of oddball cards, I felt I located the one for me," Hopkins shares via email, adding that she was surprised to have never seen it before. She'll be the first to state her passion for this particular card serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The appreciation became an all-consuming hobby, as she acquired each available Bonsly card she could possibly find. She adopted a practice of stopping by her favorite shop on a weekly basis, and was dubbed among the staff as the Bonsly fan. The shop started putting any new this specific card it received exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards cost between $1 and $3, she notes, approximating she's spent approximately four hundred dollars for the collection book.
Nowadays, pristine the card might be valued at nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, ordinary copies usually go for $4 and above. This rise in cost corresponds to her starting point collecting seriously, but it's possible that multiple reasons. Even though this card is famous among collectors, Hopkins's posts about it have received a huge audience. As news regarding Bonsly #71 keeps growing to new fans, it is likely that the value of these cards could keep rising. At the very least, enthusiasts mention how trading card game values are skyrocketing this year overall.
Nothing can halt her, yet.
"The wonderful part is certain fans and enthusiasts from her channel have shipped their Bonsly cards her way to add to my collection, and they will remain them secure indefinitely," Emily states. Instead of being put off, viewers feel admiration and motivation by her collection.
"I've actually always wanted to do this," one commenter says. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card
Maya Chen is a digital marketing strategist with over 10 years of experience helping businesses scale through innovative online campaigns.