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To celebrate the arrival of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting collaboration is underway. The Pokémon Company and London's Natural History Museum will launch a temporary store featuring exclusive merchandise. Fans will find offerings including stationery, plushes, and artwork all drawing from the institution's theme. For collectors, though, will be a specially made Pikachu card, offered as a free bonus for the pop-up. The store will operate from the physical location to its web counterpart between late January and mid-April.

The Book That Inspires the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology is a highly anticipated tome filled with beautiful artwork that show Pokémon in their wild environments. The concept is what an in-world scientist might publish once adventurers provide field notes, alternatively a naturalist's journal might have created had the famous islands were populated by flying-types rather than finches. A key appeal lies in the book's scholarly treatment, treating Pokémon as a legitimate scientific study. Author Yoshinari Yonehara and illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita both hold PhDs in animal behavior and ecology.

What Makes This Promo Card Different

The company regularly to issue special edition cards for big events or crossover partnerships. Many such promotional cards typically highlight the famous electric rodent who serves as the series face. The factor setting this latest promotion apart however, is the unusually large size. While precise specs were not publicly disclosed, its distribution will certainly be highly restricted, and fans limited to only a single card with each transaction.

Limiting Speculator Interest

According to a company announcement, some of the merchandise will also be sold beyond the institution itself. However, a wider release is slated for select retailers in the UK. Critically, fans cannot acquire this promo through the official web shop. Although reseller interest is a given, the setup suggests they will have trouble stockpiling large numbers this time around. For those unable to attend, there is an alternative like fossil-themed display headed to the Windy City later this year.

"All profits from purchases from the Museum shop and its web shop, which covers Pokémon products, support the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. That encompasses the research of hundreds of researchers who are scientific inquiry to discover solutions to the global ecological crisis," it notes.