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To celebrate the arrival of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, a unique collaboration has been formed. The Pokémon Company alongside the Natural History Museum are opening a temporary store stocked with special items. Fans can look forward to offerings including stationery, plushes, and artwork all inspired by the museum's aesthetic. For collectors, however, will be a limited-edition Pikachu card, given as a free bonus for the pop-up. The store will operate both on-site at the museum to its web counterpart from January 26 to April 19.

The Book Behind the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a much-awaited tome packed with beautiful illustrations depicting Pokémon in their natural habitats. The concept is what a Pokémon Professor could produce once adventurers provide field notes, or a naturalist's journal might have created had the Galapagos were populated by Pidgeys instead of finches. Part of the charm stems from the book's scholarly approach, presenting Pokémon as worthy of subject for study. Writer Yoshinari Yonehara together with illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita both hold doctorate degrees in ecology and behavioral science.

Why This Special Card Different

The company regularly for The Pokémon Company to release cards for major tournaments or crossover partnerships. Many such promotional cards often feature the iconic mouse Pokémon who serves as the series face. The factor setting this new promotion apart however, is the unusually large size. While exact measurements were not publicly disclosed, its distribution will certainly be strictly limited, with customers limited to just one card per purchase.

Curbing Reseller Interest

According to a company statement, a portion of the pop-up items may also be available outside the museum walls. However, a wider release is slated for select retailers within the UK. Importantly, fans will not be able to acquire this promo via 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. If you're unable to attend, consider the upcoming Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to the Windy City in the coming months.

"All profits from purchases made in the museum store and from its web shop, which covers Pokémon products, support the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. This includes the efforts of hundreds of researchers who are scientific inquiry and finding answers to the planetary emergency," the statement says.