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Marking the arrival of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting collaboration has been formed. Pokémon's creators and the Natural History Museum are opening a pop-up shop stocked with special items. Fans can look forward to offerings including plush toys, art prints, and writing supplies all drawing from the institution's theme. The big draw, however, is a specially made Pikachu card, offered as a gift with purchase for the pop-up. This shop will operate from the physical location to its web counterpart from January 26 to April 19.

The Book Behind the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology is a highly anticipated tome packed with beautiful artwork depicting creatures in their wild environments. The concept like what an in-world scientist could produce after adventurers submit their data, alternatively a naturalist's journal might have created if the Galapagos teemed with Pidgeys instead of birds. A key appeal lies in the book's scholarly approach, presenting Pokémon as worthy of scientific inquiry. Writer Yoshinari Yonehara and illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita both hold PhDs in animal behavior and ecology.

What Makes This Promo Card Different

The company regularly for The Pokémon Company to release promos for big events and brand collaborations. A lot of these collector items typically highlight the iconic mouse Pokémon who serves as the franchise mascot. The factor setting this new museum card is its distinctly bigger size. Although precise specs were not immediately shared, availability will certainly be highly restricted, and fans able to get only a single card per purchase.

Limiting Reseller Interest

Per an official announcement, some of the pop-up items will also be sold outside the museum walls. However, broader availability will only be select retailers within the United Kingdom. Importantly, fans cannot acquire the card through the online Pokémon Center. While reseller interest is a given, the setup suggests they're going to have trouble hoarding mass quantities this time around. For those unable to attend, consider the upcoming Pokémon Fossil exhibit coming to the Windy City later this year.

"All profits from purchases from the museum store and its online store, including these items, support the Natural History Museum’s charitable mission. That encompasses the research of hundreds of researchers who are scientific inquiry to discover answers to the planetary emergency," it notes.