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To celebrate the launch of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, a unique collaboration has been formed. Pokémon's creators and the Natural History Museum will launch a pop-up shop featuring special merchandise. Fans will find products like stationery, plushes, and artwork that are drawing from the museum's aesthetic. For collectors, though, is a specially made Pikachu card, given as a gift with purchase at the pop-up. The store is scheduled both on-site at the museum to its web counterpart from January 26 to April 19.

Pokécology That Inspires the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a much-awaited volume filled with stunning illustrations depicting Pokémon in their natural habitats. It's essentially is what a Pokémon Professor could produce once trainers provide field notes, alternatively a naturalist's journal might have created if the Galapagos were populated by Pidgeys rather than birds. Part of the charm stems from the book's scholarly approach, presenting Pokémon as worthy of subject for study. Author Yoshinari Yonehara together with illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita both hold doctorate degrees in ecology and behavioral science.

What Makes This Promo Card Different

The company regularly for The Pokémon Company special edition promos for big events and crossover partnerships. A lot of these collector items typically highlight the famous mouse Pokémon who serves as the series face. The factor setting this new museum card is its unusually large size. While precise specs were not publicly disclosed, its distribution is guaranteed to be strictly limited, with fans able to get just one card per purchase.

Limiting Speculator Activity

Per an official statement, a portion of the pop-up items will also be sold outside the museum walls. But, a wider release will only be select retailers in the United Kingdom. Critically, fans will not be able to purchase this promo through the online Pokémon Center. While speculator demand 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 Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to the Windy City later this year.

"All profits of sales made in the museum store and its online store, including these items, go toward the Natural History Museum’s charitable mission. That encompasses the research of 400 scientists who are scientific inquiry to discover answers to the planetary emergency," the statement notes.