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Marking the arrival of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting partnership is underway. Pokémon's creators alongside the Natural History Museum will launch a temporary store stocked with special items. Fans can look forward to offerings including plush toys, art prints, and writing supplies that are drawing from the museum's aesthetic. The big draw, though, will be a specially made Pikachu card, offered as a free bonus for the pop-up. The store is scheduled both on-site at the museum and online from January 26 to April 19.

Pokécology Behind the Partnership

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology is a much-awaited volume filled with beautiful illustrations that show Pokémon in their wild environments. It's essentially like what an in-world scientist might publish once trainers submit their data, alternatively a naturalist's journal could have sketched had the Galapagos teemed with Pidgeys instead of finches. Part of the charm lies in the book's serious approach, presenting Pokémon as worthy of subject for inquiry. Author Yoshinari Yonehara and artist Chihiro Kinoshita both hold PhDs in ecology and behavioral science.

What Makes This Special Card Stand Out

It is common for The Pokémon Company special edition promos for big events and brand collaborations. A lot of these collector items typically highlight the famous mouse Pokémon who serves as the series face. What distinguishes this new museum card however, is the unusually large dimensions. While precise specs were not publicly disclosed, availability is guaranteed to be highly restricted, with customers limited to just one card per purchase.

Curbing Speculator Activity

Per an official announcement, some of the merchandise will also be sold beyond the museum walls. However, broader availability is slated for specific stores within the UK. Critically, fans cannot purchase this promo through the online Pokémon Center. Although reseller interest is inevitable, the setup suggests they're going to have trouble hoarding mass quantities this time around. If you're unable to attend, there is the upcoming Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to Chicago in the coming months.

"All profits of sales from the museum store and from its web shop, which covers these items, support the Natural History Museum’s charitable mission. That encompasses the research of hundreds of researchers who are conducting studies to discover solutions to the planetary emergency," the statement notes.