A Special Release Pokémon Card Aims to Be Super Effective Against Resellers

To celebrate the launch of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting collaboration is underway. Pokémon's creators and the Natural History Museum are opening a temporary store featuring exclusive items. Enthusiasts can look forward to products like plush toys, art prints, and writing supplies that are drawing from the museum's theme. For collectors, though, will be a specially made Pikachu card, offered as a free bonus for the pop-up. The store is scheduled both the physical location to its web counterpart between late January and mid-April.

Pokécology That Inspires the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a highly anticipated tome packed with beautiful illustrations depicting creatures in their wild environments. It's essentially like what an in-world scientist might publish after trainers submit their data, or a naturalist's journal might have created if the famous islands teemed with Pidgeys instead of birds. A key appeal stems from the book's scholarly treatment, presenting Pokémon as a legitimate subject for study. Author Yoshinari Yonehara together with illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita each possess PhDs in ecology and behavioral science.

Why This Special Card Different

The company regularly for The Pokémon Company special edition promos for big events or crossover partnerships. Many of these promotional cards typically highlight the famous electric rodent who serves as the franchise mascot. The factor setting this latest museum card however, is the distinctly bigger size. Although precise specs were not publicly disclosed, availability will certainly be highly restricted, with fans able to get only a single card per purchase.

Curbing Speculator Activity

According to an official announcement, some of the pop-up items will also be sold outside the institution itself. But, a wider release will only be select retailers within the United Kingdom. Critically, fans will not be able to acquire the card via the online Pokémon Center. Although reseller interest is a given, the setup suggests they will have a difficult time hoarding mass quantities on this occasion. If you're feeling left out, there is the upcoming Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to Chicago in the coming months.

"Every penny of sales made in the museum store and from its online store, including Pokémon products, go toward the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. That encompasses the research of hundreds of researchers who are scientific inquiry and finding solutions to the global ecological crisis," it notes.