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To celebrate the arrival of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting partnership has been formed. Pokémon's creators and London's Natural History Museum will launch a temporary store featuring exclusive merchandise. Enthusiasts will find products like stationery, plushes, and artwork all inspired by the museum's theme. For collectors, though, will be a specially made Pikachu card, given as a gift with purchase for the pop-up. This shop will operate both the physical location to online from January 26 to April 19.

The Book Behind the Partnership

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology is a much-awaited tome filled with stunning illustrations depicting Pokémon in their wild environments. The concept like the kind of research a Pokémon Professor might publish once trainers provide field notes, or a naturalist's journal could have sketched had the famous islands teemed with flying-types rather than birds. Part of the charm stems from the book's serious approach, treating Pokémon as worthy of subject for inquiry. Author Yoshinari Yonehara together with artist Chihiro Kinoshita both hold PhDs in animal behavior and ecology.

What Makes This Special Card Stand Out

The company regularly to issue special edition cards for big events and brand collaborations. A lot of these collector items often feature the iconic electric rodent that acts as the franchise mascot. The factor setting this new promotion apart however, is the distinctly bigger dimensions. Although exact measurements were not publicly disclosed, its distribution is guaranteed to be strictly limited, with customers limited to just one card per purchase.

Curbing Reseller Interest

According to a company statement, some of the pop-up items may also be available outside the museum walls. But, broader availability is slated for select retailers in the UK. Critically, collectors cannot purchase the card via the online Pokémon Center. While reseller interest is inevitable, the setup suggests they will have a difficult time stockpiling large numbers this time around. If you're feeling left out, there is the upcoming Pokémon Fossil exhibit coming to the Windy City later this year.

"All profits of sales from the Museum shop and from its online store, which covers Pokémon products, support the Natural History Museum’s charitable mission. This includes the efforts of hundreds of researchers dedicated to conducting studies and finding answers to the global ecological crisis," the statement says.