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To celebrate the arrival of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting partnership is underway. The Pokémon Company alongside London's Natural History Museum are opening a pop-up shop featuring exclusive merchandise. Fans will find offerings including plush toys, art prints, and writing supplies all drawing from the museum's aesthetic. For collectors, though, will be a limited-edition Pikachu card, given as a free bonus for the pop-up. The store is scheduled both the physical location to online between late January and mid-April.

The Book Behind the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a much-awaited tome filled with beautiful illustrations that show Pokémon in their wild environments. It's essentially is what an in-world scientist could produce after trainers submit their data, alternatively what Charles Darwin could have sketched had the famous islands were populated by flying-types instead of birds. A key appeal lies in the book's scholarly approach, presenting Pokémon as a legitimate subject for study. Author Yoshinari Yonehara and artist Chihiro Kinoshita both hold doctorate degrees in animal behavior and ecology.

What Makes This Promo Card Stand Out

It is common to issue special edition cards for big events or crossover partnerships. Many such promotional cards often feature the iconic mouse Pokémon who serves as the franchise mascot. What distinguishes this new museum card however, is the unusually large size. While precise specs were not publicly disclosed, availability is guaranteed to be highly restricted, with customers limited to just one card with each transaction.

Limiting Speculator Activity

According to an official announcement, a portion of the pop-up items will also be sold outside the institution itself. However, a wider release will only be select retailers within the UK. Importantly, fans cannot purchase this promo via the online Pokémon Center. Although reseller interest is a given, it appears they're going to have trouble stockpiling large numbers on this occasion. If you're unable to attend, there is the upcoming fossil-themed display headed to Chicago later this year.

"Every penny of sales from the museum store and its online store, including Pokémon products, go toward the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. This includes the efforts of hundreds of researchers who are scientific inquiry to discover answers to the planetary emergency," the statement says.