Green Tiger Press
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1960s |
| Founder | Harold Darling, Sandra Darling |
| Fate | Acquired by Simon & Schuster in 1986; reacquired by founders in 2010 |
| Headquarters | La Jolla, California , United States |
| Products | Children's books, gift books, postcards, notecards, matted prints |
Green Tiger Press was a U.S.-based publishing firm that focused on reproducing artwork from classic children's literature and creating both children's and gift books. Established by Harold and Sandra Darling during the mid-1960s, the company became well-known for its distinctive artistic emphasis.
Early history
Prior to founding Green Tiger Press, Harold Darling launched The Sign of the Sun bookstore and The Shadow Box film theatre, which eventually transformed into the Unicorn Theatre and Mithras Bookstore located in La Jolla, California. Sandra Darling, who held a degree in literature and was also a painter, contributed by designing film programs and posters for the Unicorn Theatre.
Origins
Initially, Green Tiger Press started as a postcard venture that reproduced out-of-print illustrations by renowned artists such as Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, Warwick Goble, Jessie Willcox Smith, and Boutet de Monvel. Sandra's efforts to replicate these images led to expanding the business into producing hand-tipped notecards, matted prints, and books. Additionally, the press commissioned original projects like The Book of Unicorns, which blended traditional illustrations with new artwork and text authored by Harold.
In 2023, the La Jolla Historical Society recognized Green Tiger Press alongside The Unicorn Theatre and Mithras Bookstore in an exhibition titled 'Tigers, Unicorns, and Puppy Dog Tales,' held from September 23, 2023 through January 21, 2024.
Publication history
Among Green Tiger Press's significant publications were titles such as All Mirrors Are Magic Mirrors and award-winning children's books including The Teddy Bears' Picnic by Alexandra Day, which received accolades at the Children’s International Book Fair in Bologna. Their well-loved series Good Dog, Carl originated from inspiration found in an old book, while Cooper Edens' The Night Rainbow achieved bestseller status.
In 1986, Simon & Schuster purchased Green Tiger Press. Following this acquisition, the Darlings continued their stationery endeavors by launching Laughing Elephant Publishing, specializing in gift books and paper products. They regained ownership of Green Tiger in 2010, with the press continuing its focus on publishing children's literature.
Present day
The second generation, Chev and Benjamin Darling, established Laughing Elephant Gifts and Laughing Elephant Books. Seattle-based Laughing Elephant Gifts offers distinctive gifts featuring vintage artwork drawn from the Laughing Elephant and Green Tiger Press collections. Meanwhile, Laughing Elephant Books—managed by Benjamin Darling in San Diego—publishes children's and gift books that highlight vintage illustrations sourced from these same archives.