This Special Release Pikachu Promo Aims to Be Super Effective Against Speculators

Marking the launch of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, a unique partnership is underway. The Pokémon Company alongside the Natural History Museum are opening a pop-up shop featuring special items. Enthusiasts can look forward to products like stationery, plushes, and artwork all inspired by the museum's aesthetic. For collectors, however, is a specially made Pikachu card, offered as a gift with purchase for the pop-up. This shop is scheduled from on-site at the museum and its web counterpart from January 26 to April 19.

The Book 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 natural habitats. It's essentially is what a Pokémon Professor could produce after trainers submit their data, or what Charles Darwin could have sketched had the famous islands were populated by Pidgeys instead of finches. Part of the charm lies in the book's scholarly approach, treating Pokémon as a legitimate scientific study. Author Yoshinari Yonehara and illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita each possess doctorate degrees in ecology and behavioral science.

What Makes This Special Card Stand Out

It is common to issue special edition cards celebrating big events or crossover partnerships. A lot of these collector items often feature the famous mouse Pokémon who serves as the series face. What distinguishes this latest museum card however, is the unusually large dimensions. Although exact measurements were not immediately shared, its distribution is guaranteed to be highly restricted, with customers able to get just one card per purchase.

Curbing Speculator Activity

Per a company statement, a portion of the merchandise may also be available outside the museum walls. But, broader availability is slated for specific stores in the UK. Critically, collectors will not be able to purchase the card via the official web shop. Although reseller interest is a given, the setup suggests they're going to have trouble hoarding mass quantities on this occasion. For those feeling left out, there is an alternative like fossil-themed display headed to the Windy City in the coming months.

"Every penny of sales from the Museum shop and its web shop, which covers these items, support the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. That encompasses the research of 400 scientists who are scientific inquiry to discover solutions to the global ecological crisis," it notes.