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To celebrate the arrival of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting partnership is underway. The Pokémon Company and the Natural History Museum are opening a temporary store featuring special items. Fans will find offerings including plush toys, art prints, and writing supplies that are inspired by the museum's theme. The big draw, though, will be a specially made Pikachu card, given as a gift with purchase for the pop-up. The store is scheduled both on-site at the museum to its web counterpart between late January and mid-April.

The Book Behind the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology is a much-awaited volume filled with beautiful illustrations that show Pokémon in their wild environments. The concept like what an in-world scientist might publish after trainers provide field notes, alternatively a naturalist's journal could have sketched had the famous islands were populated by Pidgeys rather than birds. Part of the charm lies in the book's scholarly approach, treating Pokémon as worthy of scientific study. Writer Yoshinari Yonehara and artist Chihiro Kinoshita each possess PhDs in ecology and behavioral science.

Why This Special Card Different

It is common to issue special edition cards for big events or crossover partnerships. Many such collector items often feature the iconic mouse Pokémon that acts as the series face. What distinguishes this new promotion apart however, is the unusually large dimensions. While exact measurements were not immediately shared, availability is guaranteed to be strictly limited, and customers limited to only a single card per purchase.

Curbing Reseller Interest

According to a company announcement, a portion of the pop-up items will also be sold outside the museum walls. However, a wider release is slated for specific stores in the UK. Critically, collectors will not be able to purchase the card via the online Pokémon Center. Although speculator demand is a given, the setup suggests they're going to have trouble stockpiling large numbers on this occasion. If you're unable to attend, consider the upcoming fossil-themed display coming to the Windy City in the coming months.

"All profits from purchases made in the museum store and its web shop, which covers these items, support the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. This includes the research of 400 scientists who are conducting studies to discover solutions to the planetary emergency," the statement notes.