Golden Field Guide
The Golden Field Guides are a series of larger pocket-sized books about the natural world which were created by Western Publishing and published under their "Golden Press" line, as a related series to the Golden Guides. Edited by Herbert Zim 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 covered their subjects in greater 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 cover their subject matter in greater 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 — discontinued by St. Martin's PressBirds of North America, by Chandler Robbins and Bertel Bruun Eastern Birds, by James Coe — limited release in original but continued by St. Martin's PressFamilies of Birds, by Oliver L. Austin — originally published as a Golden Guide and later, slightly modified, as Golden Field Guide ; later discontinued by St. Martin's PressReptiles of North America, by Hobart Muir Smith, Edmund D. Brodie, David M. Dennis, and Sy Barlowe Minerals of the World, by Charles A. Sorrell, illustrations by George F. Sandström — expansion of the "Rocks and Minerals" pocket guide, then later renamed Rocks and MineralsSeashells of North America, by R. Tucker Abbott Skyguide, by Mark R. Chartrand and Helmut K. Wimmer — later renamed Night SkyTrees of North America, by C. Frank Brockman and Rebecca A. Merrilees Wildflowers of North America, by Frank D. Venning and Manabu C. SaitoThere were some other "Golden Guides" issued but not normally considered part of the regular series.