🔗 Share this article

To celebrate the arrival of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting partnership is underway. Pokémon's creators and London's Natural History Museum will launch a temporary store featuring exclusive merchandise. Fans can look forward to products like stationery, plushes, and artwork all drawing from the institution's theme. The big draw, however, is a specially made Pikachu card, given as a free bonus at the pop-up. The store will operate from on-site at the museum and online from January 26 to April 19.

Pokécology Behind the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology is a much-awaited volume filled with beautiful artwork depicting creatures in their wild environments. The concept is the kind of research a Pokémon Professor could produce once adventurers submit their data, or a naturalist's journal might have created had the famous islands were populated by Pidgeys instead of finches. A key appeal lies in the book's scholarly approach, treating Pokémon as a legitimate scientific study. Author Yoshinari Yonehara together with illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita each possess PhDs in ecology and behavioral science.

Why This Promo Card Different

It is common to issue special edition promos for big events and crossover partnerships. A lot of these collector items often feature the iconic mouse Pokémon who serves as the series face. The factor setting this new promotion apart however, is the distinctly bigger dimensions. While exact measurements were not publicly disclosed, availability will certainly be highly restricted, and fans limited to just one card with each transaction.

Limiting Speculator Interest

According to a company statement, some of the pop-up items will also be sold outside the institution itself. But, broader availability will only be select retailers in the UK. Importantly, fans cannot acquire this promo through the official web shop. Although speculator demand is inevitable, the setup suggests they're going to have a difficult time stockpiling large numbers on this occasion. For those feeling left out, there is the upcoming fossil-themed display headed to Chicago later this year.

"All profits from purchases from the museum store and its online store, including Pokémon products, 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 global ecological crisis," the statement says.