She's Gathered Hundreds of Pokemon Drainage Hole Cards, and You Can't Stop Her.
Pokémon creators released collectors to the card series Diamond & Pearl set back in 2007, including the Bonsly illustration. Within this depiction, the fourth generation stone creature appears by artist Harada-san in an unusual situation. Here, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears knocked over and weeping. But don't misunderstand, though. As its move Fake Tears suggests, the little creature is trying to manipulate the foe's feelings to lowering their offensive power. Iconic piece, right? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins certainly thinks so. And she's got a binder filled with 305 cards of Bonsly as evidence.
Her Complete Set and Its Highlights
That's not everything she has as well. She has acquired a score of reverse foil versions of this particular card, portraying the little guy with shiny foil covering everything except the primary illustration. The most valuable item, though, turns out to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holo Bonsly card. Admittedly, it's not a high-grade original Charizard card. Yet, do you possess a goofy, nearly pristine card of Bonsly maintained forever immortalized? Probably not.
Origins of the Collection
She invested a large part of this year gathering each Bonsly card from 2007 available on the market. She first heard of this rare card at the start of the year, while talking about the most cursed cards among collectors with an employee in a nearby store. The weeping Omanyte was in the running, just like Cubone by itself at the theme park. However, the one that Bonsly crying, also known as Bonsly #17, which captured her interest.
The Concept of Bonsly
Bonsly is obviously influenced from miniature trees, which are typically planted in planters featuring holes for drainage. These are meant to support healthy development, so much so that fans suggest to peers to drill holes in their containers if holes are missing. Bonsai can also be placed in shallow containers without holes, called suiban, and the collected moisture may assist enthusiasts arrange their bonsai to resemble outdoor scenes. Bonsly fits the initial category, which explains the hole.
A Memorable and Notorious Card
Despite this logical explanation, yet, The company appears somewhat excessively attentive about the drainage feature. Also, products such as Bonsly plush toys always incorporate a cavity below of this plant Pokémon. It doesn't matter if the illustration of Bonsly in question is crying or content: It features hole. This hole represents a key element of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 turned into an internet joke among fans both due to its distinctive hole, as well as its status. Up until last year, the card remained the sole iteration of Bonsly available included in the series in which most Pokémon are typically depicted in dozens of different ways. Over a decade and a half, should you desire a card of Bonsly, you had to settle with this specific design.
A Growing Obsession
"Upon noticing Bonsly in the list of infamous cards, I felt I discovered the one for me," Hopkins shares over email, adding that she was surprised that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to tell you her fondness for the Bonsly card serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The initial interest became a major fixation, as Hopkins bought each available Bonsly card available to her. She soon developed a practice of going to the nearby card store every week, and earned the nickname among the staff as the Bonsly fan. The store began setting aside any recently acquired this specific card it received exclusively for Emily. Most of these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she notes, estimating that she has invested about $400 just on the binder alone.
The Financial Side
Currently, excellent Bonsly #71 cards may reach prices of nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, standard copies usually go for $4 and above. That price increase corresponds to her starting point building her set, but it's possible that several factors at play. While it's true that Bonsly #71 is well-known among collectors, Emily's social media updates on it have also garnered a huge audience. With information regarding Bonsly #71 keeps growing to new fans, it's possible that the price of Bonsly #71 cards could keep rising. Regardless, collectors say that card market costs are soaring this year across the board.
Her Relentless Pursuit
Nothing can halt her, however.
"The amazing thing is that some supporters and viewers on social media have sent their own Bonsly cards to me for her album, and I am keeping these Bonsly safe forever," Hopkins says. Instead of being put off, viewers are amazed and encouraged by her collection.
"I've long desired to attempt something similar," an observer mentions. "Purchase all of a common card|every copy of a common card
