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 who occasionally collaborated with his wife, Marita Sandström, on Golden Guides books and other works about wildlife for museums and magazines.