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Marking the launch of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting collaboration is underway. Pokémon's creators alongside London's Natural History Museum are opening a temporary store stocked with exclusive merchandise. Enthusiasts will find products like stationery, plushes, and artwork all drawing from the museum's aesthetic. The big draw, however, will be a limited-edition Pikachu card, given as a free bonus at the pop-up. The store will operate from the physical location and online between late January and mid-April.

The Book Behind the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a much-awaited volume packed with beautiful illustrations depicting creatures in their wild environments. The concept like what a Pokémon Professor might publish after adventurers provide field notes, alternatively what Charles Darwin could have sketched had the Galapagos were populated by Pidgeys instead of birds. A key appeal stems from the book's scholarly treatment, presenting Pokémon as a legitimate scientific study. Writer Yoshinari Yonehara together with illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita both hold PhDs in ecology and behavioral science.

Why This Special Card Different

The company regularly to issue to release promos for major tournaments and crossover partnerships. Many of these promotional cards typically highlight the famous mouse Pokémon that acts as the series face. The factor setting this new promotion apart is its unusually large size. Although exact measurements have not been immediately shared, availability will certainly be strictly limited, and customers limited to only a single card with each transaction.

Curbing Reseller Interest

Per a company announcement, some of the merchandise will also be sold outside the institution itself. But, a wider release is slated for select retailers within the United Kingdom. Critically, fans will not be able to acquire the card through the online Pokémon Center. Although speculator demand is a given, the setup suggests they're going to have trouble stockpiling large numbers this time around. If you're unable to attend, there is an alternative like Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to the Windy City in the coming months.

"All profits from purchases from the museum store and from its online store, including these items, go toward the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. This includes the research of hundreds of researchers dedicated to scientific inquiry and finding solutions to the planetary emergency," it says.