She's Collected Hundreds of Pokémon Drainage Hole Cards, and She's Unstoppable.

The Pokémon Company introduced the world to the card series DP set during 2007, featuring the Bonsly card. In this card, the Gen 4 rock-type is portrayed by designer Harada-san in an unusual position. On the card, this pre-evolution is depicted knocked over and weeping. Don't be fooled, however. As its move the move Fake Tears, the little creature attempts to manipulate their opponent's emotions to reducing their damage output. Unforgettable artwork, no? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins absolutely agrees. She possesses an album with 305 Bonsly illustrations to show for it.

Her Complete Set Including Rare Finds

However, that's not the whole collection either. She's got 20 reverse holographic copies of the Bonsly card, portraying the little guy with shiny foil covering everything except the main image. The prized possession, though, proves to be the PSA 6-graded holo reverse Bonsly card. Admittedly, it's far from a high-grade original Charizard card. However, can you claim an amusing, nearly pristine Bonsly illustration preserved in all its splendor? I didn't think so.

The Start of the Obsession

Hopkins has spent most of the current year stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She first heard about the out-of-print card in recent months, while debating the notoriously odd cards among collectors with an employee in a nearby store. Omanyte in tears was in the running, just like the lonely Cubone at the theme park. But it was Bonsly crying, or the seventeenth card, that caught Hopkins's attention.

The Concept of Bonsly

The design of Bonsly is based by bonsai plants, which are often grown in containers that have drainage holes. These are meant to support healthy development, so much so that growers encourage each other to add holes on the bottom when none are present. They can also be positioned in shallow containers without holes, referred to as suiban, where the water stays may assist caretakers arrange their bonsai to look like natural landscapes. Bonsly represents the first type, which explains the hole.

A Memorable and Notorious Card

Although this makes sense, though, The company seems almost a little too concerned with Bonsly's hole. Also, products including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature an empty space at the bottom of Bonsly. It makes no difference if the depiction of the Pokémon appears sad or content: It features a hole. This hole represents a fundamental aspect of Bonsly's design. Bonsly #71 became a meme in collector circles both due to its distinctive hole, as well as its rarity. For years before, this Bonsly card was the single type of Bonsly card included in the series in which most Pokémon usually appear in various forms. For sixteen years, were you seeking a Bonsly card, you needed to accept with this specific design.

Emily's Dedication

"Upon noticing this card on the list of oddball cards, I felt I located my favorite one," she explains via email, mentioning how she was surprised that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She is quick to state her passion for Bonsly #71 serves no practical purpose, but it didn't matter. The initial interest became a full-blown obsession, as she acquired every Bonsly #71 card she could possibly find. She quickly got into a routine of stopping by the nearby card store regularly, and earned the nickname by workers as the Bonsly collector. They started putting any new Bonsly #71 cards they obtained only for her. Typically, these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she says, approximating she's spent about $400 for the collection book.

Market Trends and Value

Nowadays, mint-condition Bonsly #71 cards may reach prices of nearly $15. While that's on the higher end, standard Bonsly #71 cards are often priced at starting at $4. The upward trend more or less coincides with her starting point building her set, but it's possible that several factors at play. Even though the card is notorious with enthusiasts, Emily's social media updates on it have received millions of views. With information about this card continues to spread to new fans, there's a chance their market price may continue to shoot up. At the very least, investors say that trading card game values are soaring currently overall.

Unstoppable Determination

Nothing can halt her, however.

"The wonderful part is that certain fans and viewers of the YouTube channel have sent their own Bonsly cards to Emily to add to my collection, and I am keeping them secure indefinitely," Emily states. Rather than recoil in horror, the audience are amazed and encouraged by her collection.

"For years, I wished to do this," a viewer notes. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card