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To celebrate the arrival of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, a unique partnership has been formed. Pokémon's creators and London's Natural History Museum will launch a pop-up shop stocked with special merchandise. Enthusiasts will find offerings including plush toys, art prints, and writing supplies that are inspired by the museum's theme. For collectors, however, will be a limited-edition Pikachu card, offered as a gift with purchase at 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 Behind the Partnership

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a much-awaited tome packed with stunning artwork that show Pokémon in their natural habitats. It's essentially is what an in-world scientist could produce once adventurers provide field notes, alternatively a naturalist's journal could have sketched had the famous islands teemed with flying-types rather than birds. Part of the charm lies in the book's serious approach, treating Pokémon as worthy of scientific study. Author Yoshinari Yonehara and illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita each possess PhDs in ecology and behavioral science.

Why This Promo Card Stand Out

It is common to issue to release cards celebrating big events or crossover partnerships. A lot of these promotional cards often feature the famous mouse Pokémon who serves as the series face. The factor setting this new promotion apart however, is the distinctly bigger size. Although exact measurements have not been publicly disclosed, availability is guaranteed to be strictly limited, and fans limited to only a single card per purchase.

Curbing Speculator Interest

Per a company statement, some of the merchandise will also be sold outside the institution itself. But, a wider release will only be select retailers in the UK. Importantly, collectors cannot acquire this promo via the official web shop. While reseller interest is a given, the setup suggests they're going to have trouble stockpiling large numbers this time around. If you're unable to attend, consider an alternative like Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to Chicago in the coming months.

"All profits from purchases from the museum store and from its web shop, which covers these items, support the Natural History Museum’s charitable mission. This includes the efforts of hundreds of researchers who are conducting studies and finding solutions to the global ecological crisis," it says.