She Has Amassed Numerous of Pokemon Drainage Hole Cards, and You Can't Stop Her.

Pokémon creators introduced fans to the trading card game Diamond and Pearl expansion during 2007, showcasing the Bonsly illustration. On this artwork, Gen IV stone creature is portrayed by illustrator Harada-san in a, shall we say, compromising pose. On the card, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo can be seen knocked over and shedding tears. Don't be fooled, however. As its move the move Fake Tears, Bonsly aims to manipulate the other player's mood with the goal of lowering their offensive power. Iconic piece, right? Harp player Emily certainly thinks so. She owns a binder filled with 305 Bonsly cards to show for it.

The Full Collection Including Rare Finds

But that isn't everything she has either. She obtained 20 reverse foil editions of the Bonsly card, showing the tyke with metallic accents everywhere but the main image. The crown jewel, though, turns out to be the professionally graded PSA 6 holo reverse Bonsly card. Certainly, it isn't a top-graded Charizard illustration. But do you have a goofy, nearly pristine Bonsly illustration maintained in its eternal glory? I thought as much.

How It All Began

Hopkins has spent most of the current year accumulating each Bonsly card from 2007 available on the market. She discovered of this rare card at the start of the year, while talking about the notoriously odd cards in the compendium with a worker at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was in the running, along with the forever alone Cubone on a park ride. But it was Bonsly crying, or card number 17, which captured her interest.

Behind Bonsly's Look

The design of Bonsly is based by bonsai plants, which are typically planted in containers featuring holes for drainage. They are designed to support healthy development, to the extent that growers advise one another to add holes on the bottom if holes are missing. Bonsai can also be placed in shallow containers without holes, called suiban, and the retained water can help caretakers style their trees to resemble natural landscapes. Bonsly is the former, thus the hole exists.

A Memorable and Notorious Card

Even with this reasonable background, though, Pokémon's creators seems almost a little too concerned with Bonsly's hole. Even merch such as Bonsly plush toys make sure to include a hollow cavern on the underside of the tree-like Pokémon. It doesn't matter if the illustration of this particular Bonsly is crying or content: It's going to show the hole. The hole is a key element in Bonsly's appearance. Card number 71 turned into an internet joke within the community thanks to the famous hole, in addition to its status. For years before, Bonsly #71 was the single type of Bonsly card released in the TCG where many of its monsters are typically depicted in multiple editions. For 16 years, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you had to settle for hole Bonsly.

Emily's Dedication

"When I discovered Bonsly in the list of infamous cards, I realized I discovered my new favorite," she explains via email, adding that it was unexpected that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to tell you her love of this particular card serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The initial interest turned into a full-blown obsession, as she acquired every Bonsly #71 card available to her. She soon developed a routine of stopping by her local card shop every week, and was dubbed among the staff as the Bonsly fan. They started putting any new this specific card that came in aside just for Hopkins. Typically, these cards cost between $1 and $3, she says, calculating that she has invested about $400 only on the album itself.

The Financial Side

Nowadays, excellent Bonsly #71 cards can cost up to nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, run-of-the-mill versions are often priced at four dollars or more. The upward trend roughly aligns with when Hopkins started her collection in earnest, though there are likely several factors at play. Although this card is famous with enthusiasts, Emily's social media updates on it have received countless views. As awareness of its existence expands further to new fans, it is likely that their market price could keep rising. Regardless, investors note that TCG prices are soaring currently in general.

Her Relentless Pursuit

Hopkins cannot be stopped, though.

"The wonderful part is certain fans and fans of the YouTube channel have mailed their own Bonsly cards her way to add to my collection, and I am keeping them secure indefinitely," Hopkins says. Far from being alarmed, the audience are impressed and inspired by this project.

"I've actually always wanted to attempt something similar," a viewer notes. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card