Golden Guides first appeared in 1949 and quickly established themselves as authorities on subjects from Natural History to Science. Relaunched in 2000, Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press feature modern, new covers as part of a multi-year, million-dollar program to revise, update, and expand the complete line of guides for a new generation of students.

R. Tucker Abbott was one of the twentieth century's most prominent specialists in seashells and mollusks. He wrote more than thirty books - including American Seashells, Seashells of the World, The Shell, and The Kingdom of the Seashell - several of which are still used for reference today. He named five species of seashells and mollusks, and fifteen more species have been named in his honor.

Herbert S. Zim was a naturalist, author, editor, and educator best known as the founder and editor in chief of the classic, pocket-sized Golden Guides series of nature books.

George F. Sandström was a self-taught illustrator of Golden Guides books and other works about wildlife for museums and magazines.