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To celebrate the launch of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, a unique partnership has been formed. The Pokémon Company and London's Natural History Museum are opening a temporary store stocked with special merchandise. Fans will find products like plush toys, art prints, and writing supplies that are drawing from the museum's theme. The big draw, however, is a limited-edition Pikachu card, offered as a gift with purchase for the pop-up. The store will operate both on-site at the museum to online from January 26 to April 19.

The Book That Inspires the Partnership

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology is a highly anticipated volume packed with beautiful artwork that show Pokémon in their natural habitats. The concept is the kind of research an in-world scientist could produce after adventurers provide field notes, alternatively what Charles Darwin could have sketched if the famous islands teemed with flying-types rather than birds. A key appeal lies in the book's serious approach, presenting Pokémon as a legitimate subject for study. Writer Yoshinari Yonehara and illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita both hold PhDs in animal behavior and ecology.

What Makes This Promo Card Different

The company regularly for The Pokémon Company special edition promos for major tournaments or brand collaborations. Many such collector items often feature the iconic mouse Pokémon who serves as the series face. The factor setting this latest museum card however, is the distinctly bigger size. Although precise specs have not been publicly disclosed, its distribution will certainly be strictly limited, and customers limited to just one card with each transaction.

Curbing Speculator Interest

Per a company statement, some of the pop-up items will also be sold outside the museum walls. However, broader availability is slated for specific stores in the UK. Critically, fans will not be able to acquire the card via the official web shop. Although reseller interest is a given, it appears they're going to have a difficult time stockpiling large numbers this time around. If you're unable to attend, consider an alternative like Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to the Windy City in the coming months.

"All profits of sales made in the museum store and from its online store, which covers these items, go toward the Natural History Museum’s charitable mission. This includes the research of hundreds of researchers dedicated to conducting studies and finding solutions to the planetary emergency," it notes.