German Golden Guides


Quite a few of the German Golden Guides have no Golden Press version. I have listed a few to show the similarities. Most of the German books shown were printed by Arnold Mondadori. But a few were published by New Interlitho S.P.A., Trezzano. And some were previously published by Fredrick Warne, the publisher of Observer Books. One thing worth mentioning- all the titles have 160 pages. Sound familiar? With that said, here are a few titles:

Der Mond translates to The Moon. Number 20 in the series. Written by Guido Ruggieri. © 1968 Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Milano. © 1970 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. On the copyright page is the printing history. My copy has 3. Auflage 1973, which means it is a third printing. (shown right)

Hunde translates to Dogs. Number 18 in the series. Written by Dr. Lucien Guillot. © 1966, 1970 by Editions des Deux Coqs d'Or, Paris. © 1970 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by New Interlitho S.P.A., Trezzano. ISBN 3-7735-2718-7.

Hölen und Hölenkunde translates to Caves and Caving. Number 27 in the series. Written by Marc Jasinski. © by Western Publishing International. Published by Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. A French and British version exists of this book, but no Golden Press edition. This cover matches the British cover.

Blühende Sträucher und Bäume im Garten translates to Blooming Shrubs and Trees in the Garden. Number 36 in the series. Written by Stanley B. Whitehead. © Frederick Warne & Co. LTD, London, 1972. Erschienen im Delphin Verlag GmbH, München und Zürich, 1980. Printed in Italy by New Interlitho S.P.A., Trezzano. ISBN 3.7735.2736.5.

Wildblumen translates to Wildflowers. Number 3 in the series. Written by Jean Raray. © 1963 by Western Publishing International, Genf. Published by Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. Same cover as the British Wild Flowers Little Guide In Colour. The interior illos have changed from the British version. The photos are the same though.
Same cover and contents as the French Fleurs Sauvages Le Petit Guide.

Wild roughly translates to Game Animals. Number 8 in the series. Written by Tony Burnand. © 1964 by Western Publishing International, Genf. © 1967 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. Same cover and contents as the French Gibiers d'europe Le Petit Guide.

Säugetiere roughly translates to Mammals of Europe. Number 25 in the series. Written by Roland Heu. © 1968 by Editions des Deux Coqs d'Or, Paris. 1973 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. This book appears to be a reprint of the French title Mammifères sauvages d'Europe. But I have yet to obtain a copy for verification.

Schmetterlinge translates to Butterflies, European Species. Number 2 in the series. Written by Yves Latouche. © 1963 by Western Publishing International, Genf. © 1967 by Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. This book was also printed in French; titled Papillons. Cover and contents are identical to the French version. My copy has 3. Auflage 1969, which means it is a third printing.

Sportfischerei roughly translates to Sport Fishery. Number 7 in the series. Written by Tony Burnand. © 1963 by Western Publishing International, Genf. © 1967 by Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. This book was also printed in French; titled Pêche en eau douce. Note: this edition appears to be a first printing. The symbol on the cover is not the familiar Dolphin logo.

Pilze translates to Mushrooms. Number 12 in the series. Written by Pierre Montarnal. © 1964 by Western Publishing International, Genf. © Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. This book was also printed in French; titled Champignons. My copy has 3. Auflage 1969, which means it is a third printing. The cover photo of Pilze has changed from the French cover. The contents of the two books are the same, except text and drawings have been moved around.

Zimmerpflanzen translates to Houseplants. The subheading says und Kakteen, which means and Cactus. So the full title is Houseplants and Cactus. Number 14 in the series. Written by Henri Rose. © 1966 Editions des Deux Coqs d'Or, Paris. Western Publishing International, Genf. is also mentioned. © 1969 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. ISBN 3-7735-2714-4. This book was also printed in French; titled Cactées et plantes d'appartement. My copy has 3. Auflage 1972, which means it is a third printing. The cover and contents of the two books are the same. Note: even though the German and French version of these two books are the same, they have different titles.

Vögel translates to Birds. Number 1 in the series. Written by Y. Letouzey and E. Léo. © 1962 by Western Publishing International, Genf. © 1967 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. A British version has the title Birds. The full title is A Guide to the Birds of Great Britain and Europe. My copy has 5. Auflage 1969, which means it is a fifth printing. The cover and contents of the two books appear to be the same. But Vögel lists 120 Birds. And the British Birds lists 112 birds. Not sure why this discrepancy exists.

Bäume translates to Trees. Number 10 in the series. Written by J. Bretaudeau. © 1964 by Western Publishing Hachette International, Genf. © 1968 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. A British version of Trees has a different cover. But the contents are the same.

Süsswasserfische possibly means Freshwater Fish. Number 7 in the series. Written by Tony Burnand. © 1963 by Western Publishing International, Genf. © 1967 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. The subtitle states und Sportfischeri am Süßwasser which means and sport fishery at the fresh water. The copy shown is a first printing.

Meeresfische means Saltwater Fish. Number 11 in the series. Written by Tony Burnand. © 1964 by Western Publishing Hachette International, Genf. © 1968 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona. The subtitle states und Sportfischeri am Meer which means and sport fishery at the sea. A British version, called Fishes has the same cover. But the contents have changed a little. And the subtitle is A Guide To European Sea Fishes and Fishing. The copy shown is a first printing.

Aquarienfische translates to Aquarium Fish. Number 33 in the series. Written by Neil Wainwright. Illustrations by Baz East. © Frederick Warne & Co LTD, London, 1979. Delphin Verlag GmbH München und Zürich, 1979. Printed in Italy by New Interlithio, Trezzano. This copy appears to be a first printing by Delphin Verlag.

Pferde und Ponys translates to Horses And Ponies. Number 35 in the series. Written by Judith Campbell. Illustrations by Dugald Mac Dougall. © 1970, 1980 The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. Delphin Verlag GmbH, München und Zürich, 1980. Printed in Italy by New Interlithio, Trezzano. This copy appears to be a first printing by Delphin Verlag.

Heilpflanzen translates to Welfare Plants. Or simply put- Healthy Plants. Number 13 in the series. Written by Michel Caron and Henry Clos Jouve. Illustrations by Dominique F. Vernière. © 1966 Editions des Deux Coqs d'Or, Paris. © 1969 Delphin Verlag GmbH, München und Zürich. Printed in Italy by New Interlithio S.P.A., Trezzano. This copy also exists in a French edition titled Plantes medicinales.

Schönheitspflege translates to Beauty Care. Number 15 in the series. Written by Mila Contini. Illustrations by Ava Belcampo. © 1967 Mondadori W. P. - Milano. © 1969 Delphin Verlag GmbH, München und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona..

Der menschliche Körper translates to The Human Body. Number 34 in the series. Written by Paul Lewis and David Rubenstein. Illustrations by John Bavosi. © 1970, The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd., London. All rights reserved. Erschienen im Delphin Verlag GmbH, München und Zürich. Printed in Italy by New Interlithio, Trezzano..

Greifvögel und Eulen translates to Grab Birds and Owls. Grab is as close as I can get for the translation of this title, which is something like a predator. Number 37 in the series. Written by Glenys and Derek Lloyd. Illustrations by Ken Lilly. © 1969, 1980, The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd., London. Alle deutschen Rechte beim Delphin Verlag GmbH, München und Zürich, 1980. Satzherstellung: Tages-Anzeiger, Zürich. Printed in Italy by New Interlithio, Trezzano.

Rosen translates to Roses. Number 39 in the series. Written by Michael Gibson. © 1980 by Michael Gibson. All rights reserved. Alle deutschen Rechte beim Delphin Verlag GmbH, München und Zürich, 1981. Satz: RoBkopf, Königsbrunn. Printed in Italy by New Interlithio, Trezzano.

Der Mensch der Vorgeschichte translates to Humans of the Prehistory. Which is probably the long way of saying Evolution. Number 40 in the series. Written by Michael H. Day. Illustrated by A. Oxenham. © 1969, The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd., London. All rights reserved. Erschienen im Delphin Verlag GmbH, München und Zürich, 1981. Satz: Brandstetter KG, Wiesbaden. Printed in Italy by New Interlithio, Trezzano.

Alpenblumen translates to Alpine Flowers. Number 19 in the series. Written by Francesco Bianchini. Photos by Azzurra Carrara Pantano. © 1967, 1970 Mondadori W.P.- Milano. Alle deutschen Rechte vorbehalten © 1970 Delphin Verlag. Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona.

Gartenblumen translates to Garden Flowers or Blooming Flowers. No number. Written by David Pycraft. Illustrated by Joan Lupton. © Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., London 1974. Erschien im Delphin Verlag GmbH, München und Zürich, 1980. Titelfoto: Horst von Irmer, Internationales Bildarchiv, München. Satz: B+K Offsetdruck, Ottersweier. Printed in Italy by New Interlithio, Trezzano. ISBN 3.7735.2738.1

Kochen translates to Cook. Number 9 in the series. Written by Liselotte Julius. © 1963 by Editions des Deux Coqs d'Or, Paris. © 1968 Delphin Verlag, Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by O.G.A. Mondadori, Verona.

Katzen translates to Cats. Number 32 in the series. Written by Christine Metcalf. The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd., 1969, 1979. Erschienen im Delphin Verlag Stuttgart und Zürich. Printed in Italy by New Interlithio. ISBN 3.7735.2732.2. Not the same as the American or French version of Cats.

One final thought on the titles listed here. It seems that some of these books should match up at least in part with the Golden Press Versions. I have compared these versions thoroughly with the Golden Press editions. These titles have new authors, photos, art, etc. The only resemblance seems to be the title. And I have no idea why most of these books mention Western Publishing International.

Below are links to the books that do match up with the American Golden Press versions. These titles are also featured on the respective Golden Guide page. (accessed from the checklist)


The Moon Guide German Dogs Golden Guide German Caving Golden Guide German Blooming Flowers Golden Guide  German Garden Flowers Guide German Game Guide German Mammals Guide German Butterflies Guide German Fishing Guide German Mushroom Guide German Houseplants Guide German Birds Guide German Trees Guide German Fishing Guide German Sea Fishing Guide German Aquarium Fish Guide German Horses Guide German Healthy Plants Guide German Beauty Care German Human Body German Grab Birds German RosesGerman Evolution German Alpine Flowers German Garden Flowers German Cookbook German Cats