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To celebrate the arrival of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, a unique partnership has been formed. The Pokémon Company alongside the Natural History Museum are opening a temporary store featuring special items. Fans can look forward to offerings including stationery, plushes, and artwork that are drawing from the institution's theme. For collectors, however, will be a specially made Pikachu card, offered as a gift with purchase at the pop-up. The store will operate both the physical location and its web counterpart between late January and mid-April.

Pokécology That Inspires the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a much-awaited volume packed with beautiful artwork depicting Pokémon in their wild environments. The concept is the kind of research an in-world scientist could produce after trainers submit their data, alternatively a naturalist's journal might have created if the famous islands were populated by flying-types rather than birds. A key appeal stems from the book's scholarly treatment, presenting Pokémon as worthy of subject for study. Author Yoshinari Yonehara together with illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita both hold doctorate degrees in ecology and behavioral science.

Why This Special Card Different

It is common for The Pokémon Company to release cards celebrating major tournaments or crossover partnerships. A lot of these promotional cards often feature the famous mouse Pokémon that acts as the franchise mascot. The factor setting this new promotion apart is its distinctly bigger size. While precise specs were not immediately shared, availability will certainly be highly restricted, and fans limited to only a single card with each transaction.

Limiting Reseller Interest

Per a company statement, a portion of the pop-up items will also be sold outside the institution itself. But, a wider release is slated for select retailers within the UK. Importantly, fans cannot acquire the card through the official web shop. Although speculator demand is a given, the setup suggests they will have a difficult time stockpiling large numbers on this occasion. For those feeling left out, consider the upcoming fossil-themed display coming to the Windy City in the coming months.

"All profits of sales from the museum store and from its web shop, which covers Pokémon products, support the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. This includes the research of hundreds of researchers who are scientific inquiry to discover solutions to the planetary emergency," the statement notes.