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To celebrate the arrival of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, a unique collaboration has been formed. Pokémon's creators and London's Natural History Museum are opening a pop-up shop stocked with special items. Enthusiasts will find products like plush toys, art prints, and writing supplies that are drawing from the museum's theme. The big draw, however, is a limited-edition Pikachu card, given as a free bonus at the pop-up. This shop is scheduled from the physical location and online from January 26 to April 19.

Pokécology That Inspires the Partnership

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a much-awaited volume filled with beautiful artwork depicting creatures in their wild environments. It's essentially is what a Pokémon Professor could produce once adventurers provide field notes, or a naturalist's journal could have sketched had the Galapagos were populated by flying-types rather than birds. A key appeal stems from the book's serious approach, presenting Pokémon as a legitimate scientific inquiry. Author Yoshinari Yonehara and illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita each possess doctorate degrees in animal behavior and ecology.

Why This Special Card Different

The company regularly to issue to release cards celebrating big events or brand collaborations. Many of these collector items often feature the famous electric rodent that acts as the franchise mascot. The factor setting this new museum card is its distinctly bigger dimensions. Although exact measurements were not immediately shared, its distribution is guaranteed to be highly restricted, and customers limited to only a single card with each transaction.

Limiting Reseller Activity

According to a company statement, a portion of the merchandise will also be sold beyond the museum walls. But, broader availability will only be select retailers within the UK. Importantly, collectors will not be able to acquire the card through the online Pokémon Center. While speculator demand is a given, the setup suggests they will have a difficult time hoarding mass quantities this time around. If you're feeling left out, there is an alternative like Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to Chicago later this year.

"All profits of sales made in the Museum shop and its online store, including Pokémon products, support the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. This includes the efforts of hundreds of researchers dedicated to scientific inquiry to discover solutions to the planetary emergency," it says.