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Marking the arrival of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting partnership has been formed. The Pokémon Company alongside London's Natural History Museum will launch a pop-up shop stocked with special items. Fans can look forward to offerings including plush toys, art prints, and writing supplies all inspired by the museum's theme. The big draw, however, will be a specially made Pikachu card, given as a free bonus at the pop-up. This shop is scheduled from on-site at the museum and online between late January and mid-April.

Pokécology That Inspires the Partnership

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a highly anticipated tome packed with stunning illustrations that show Pokémon in their wild environments. It's essentially like what an in-world scientist might publish after adventurers submit their data, or a naturalist's journal could have sketched had the Galapagos were populated by Pidgeys instead of finches. A key appeal stems from the book's serious approach, presenting Pokémon as a legitimate subject for inquiry. Writer Yoshinari Yonehara and illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita each possess PhDs in animal behavior and ecology.

Why This Special Card Stand Out

The company regularly to issue special edition cards for big events and crossover partnerships. Many such promotional cards often feature the iconic electric rodent that acts as the franchise mascot. What distinguishes this latest museum card however, is the unusually large dimensions. Although precise specs have not been publicly disclosed, availability is guaranteed to be strictly limited, and fans able to get only a single card per purchase.

Curbing Reseller Activity

According to a company statement, some of the merchandise will also be sold beyond the museum walls. However, a wider release is slated for specific stores in the UK. Importantly, collectors cannot acquire this promo via the online Pokémon Center. While reseller interest is inevitable, the setup suggests they're going to have a difficult time hoarding mass quantities this time around. If you're unable to attend, there is the upcoming Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to the Windy City in the coming months.

"Every penny from purchases from the museum store and its web shop, including Pokémon products, go toward the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. That encompasses the research of hundreds of researchers dedicated to scientific inquiry to discover answers to the planetary emergency," the statement notes.