The Golden Field Guides are a series of larger pocket-sized books that were created by
Western Publishing
Western Publishing, also known as Western Printing and Lithographing Company, was a Racine, Wisconsin, firm responsible for publishing the Little Golden Books. Its Golden Books Family Entertainment division also produced children's books and ...
and published under their "Golden Press" line (mostly used for children's books at the time), as a related series to the
Golden Guides. Edited by
Herbert Zim
Herbert Spencer Zim (July 12, 1909 – December 5, 1994) was a naturalist, author, editor and educator best known as the founder (1945) and editor-in-chief of the Golden Guides series of nature books.
Biography
Zim was born 1909 in New York ...
and Vera Webster, the books were written by experts in their field and illustrated with a simple straightforward style.
Unlike the Golden Guides, the Field Guides went more in-depth, being more aimed at the high school/college level. They also had sturdier covers, obviously intending that they be used in the field. Most note that they are a "Guide to Field Identification" on the cover. To go more in-depth and intended as both identification and educational, most of the Field Guides limited themselves to North America, while the Golden Guides were usually worldwide.
The series, updated, was relaunched in 2001 as "Golden Field Guides by
St. Martin's Press". Certain titles have been discontinued, such as the ''Amphibians of North America'' and ''Families of Birds'' books.
Series list
* ''Amphibians of North America'', by
Hobart Muir Smith
Hobart Muir Smith, born Frederick William Stouffer (September 26, 1912 – March 4, 2013), was an American herpetologist. He is credited with describing more than 100 new species of American reptiles and amphibians. In addition, he has been ...
(1978) — discontinued by St. Martin's Press
* ''Birds of North America'', by
Chandler Robbins
Chandler Seymour Robbins (July 17, 1918 – March 20, 2017) was an American ornithologist. His contributions to the field include co-authorship of an influential field guide to birds, as well as organizing the North American Breeding Bird Surve ...
and
Bertel Bruun (1966)
* ''Eastern Birds'', by
James Coe
Herbert James Bowkett Coe (26 September 1917 – 17 December 2003) was a New Zealand artist, art teacher, industrial designer and early champion of ergonomic design.
Biography
Coe was born in Timaru in 1917. He attended the Canterbury Coll ...
(1994) — limited release in original but continued by St. Martin's Press
* ''Families of Birds'', by
Oliver L. Austin (1971) — originally published as a
Golden Guide (small format) and later, slightly modified, as Golden Field Guide (large format);
later discontinued by St. Martin's Press
* ''Reptiles of North America'', by Hobart Muir Smith, Edmund D. Brodie, David M. Dennis, and Sy Barlowe (1982)
* ''Minerals of the World'', by Charles A. Sorrell (1973) — later renamed ''Rocks and Minerals''
* ''Seashells of North America'', by
R. Tucker Abbott (1968)
* ''Skyguide'', by Mark R. Chartrand and Helmut K. Wimmer (1982) — later renamed ''Night Sky''
* ''Trees of North America'', by C. Frank Brockman and Rebecca A. Merrilees (1968)
* ''Wildflowers of North America'', by Frank D. Venning and Manabu C. Saito (1984)
There were some other "Golden Guides" issued but not normally considered part of the regular series.
Associated Series list
* ''National Parks of the World'', by
Kai Curry-Lindahl,
Jean-Paul Harroy
Jean-Paul Harroy (4 May 1909 – 8 July 1995) was a Belgian colonial civil servant who served as the last Governor and only Resident-General of Ruanda-Urundi. His term coincided with the Rwandan Revolution and the assassination of the popular ...
, and the
(1972) — volumes 1 & 2
* ''A Golden Guide to Environmental Organizations'', by
Bruce W. Halstead (1972)
* ''The Golden Guide to Lawns, Trees and Shrubs'', by
John Strohm (1961)
* ''The Golden Guide to Flowers A Handbook for Home Gardeners'', by
John Strohm (1962)
References
{{Reflist
External links
Golden Field Guide from St. Martin's Press
Series of books
Natural history books