Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified 1994/12/16
Version 1.1
 
         The rec.heraldry Frequently Asked Questions File
         ================================================
 
 
Although rec.heraldry isn't a high-volume newsgroup, there are several 
questions often asked by those new to heraldry. This is an attempt to 
collect them, and their answers, in one posting which can be distributed 
regularly.
 
It is maintained by Gordon Findlay (gordon@chmeds.ac.nz) and will be 
posted every month or so. Comments, brickbats and especially corrections 
can be sent via:
 
* email:  gordon@chmeds.ac.nz
* mail:   Gordon Findlay, PO Box 2939, Christchurch, New Zealand
 
This FAQ list is compiled by me, with contributions from many of the 
readers of rec.heraldry. It owes much to (in no particular order): Josh 
Mittleman, Ben Rondeau, Jim Terzian, Phil Anderson, Francois Velde, 
Lorne Gray, Joao Portugal, Simon Kershaw, Dafydd Wyn Evans, Andrea 
Habura.
 
You'll soon find that there's lots of nonsense written about heraldry. 
Always remember that the origins of heraldry are lost in antiquity, that 
many writers on heraldry have simply copied each other's mistakes, and 
that there is much disagreement among heralds. Remember, too, that a 
"rule" which applies in one place at one time may not travel well to 
another time or place.

Changes since last time:  address corrections, ftp and www entries.
 
Table of Contents
=================
 
   1: What is rec.heraldry?
   2: What other newsgroups and mailing lists are there?
   3: How can I find my coat of arms or my family's coat of arms?
   4: What about those outfits in the malls that'll sell me my arms?
   5: What is the difference between a coat of arms and a crest?
   6: How do you blazon a coat of arms?
   7: What's the SCA? How does it relate to rec.heraldry?
   8: What do arms mean?
   9: How inviolable is the rule of tincture?
  10: Is the Court of Chivalry dead?
  11: What heraldic software is available?
  12: Is there a computerised Ordinary available to download?
  13: Where can I find heraldic clip-art on the net?
  14: What are some books I can turn to to learn more?
  15: Addresses of national heraldic and genealogical associations.
  16: Distribution
 
1: What is rec.heraldry?
========================
 
The rec.heraldry newsgroup exists for the discussion of coats of arms, 
the work and history of heralds, and related topics such as flags, 
seals, ceremony and precedence.
 
 
2: What other newsgroups and mailing lists are there?
=====================================================
 
For genealogical matters, see the newsgroups soc.genealogy.* and 
alt.geneaogy. (What was soc.roots is now soc.genealogy.misc; as at the 
time of writing this was a recent change.)
 
For the SCA (see question 7) there are rec.org.sca and alt.heraldry.sca 
(although the latter group is badly propagated). There is also the 
mailing list SCAHRLDS on listserv@pucc.princeton.edu.
 
There is a mailing list devoted to flags; this description was provided 
by its maintainer:
 
  "The scope of the FLAGS mailing list is to create a worldwide, real-time
   updated database about all kinds of flags: (inter)national, (un)official,
   ethnical, political, religious, movements' flags; to discuss symbols
   and colors used on flags, in order to find common or unique
   meanings of them; and to gather informations about flags' history.
   If you want to subscribe, send a message to <bottasini@cesi.it>"
 
There is a World Wide Web page at 
     http://www2.ncsu.edu/eos/users/s/sfcallic/SCA/Heraldy.html
which is fairly SCA oriented, but check it out.
 
3: How can I find my coat of arms or my family's coat of arms?
==============================================================
 
"This is a difficult question to answer; it requires a great deal of 
research and skill. To start with, you should understand that families 
and surnames don't have arms; individuals have arms.[1]  The fact that 
someone sharing your surname has (or once had) arms would tell you 
nothing about your own right to claim those arms. In order to answer 
this sort of question, you would need to trace your lineage back, find 
out if any of your ancestors were armigerous, and then trace their 
descendants forward to discover if you are the rightful heir to their 
arms.
 
[1] This is not entirely true. In some countries, arms are owned 
jointly by entire families but the right to arms is still passed by 
inheritance. A genealogical relationship must be established."
 
           - Josh Mittleman (mittle@panix.com)
 
 
4: What about those outfits in the malls that'll sell me my arms?
=================================================================
 
See question 3.
 
"Unless you pay them thousands of dollars, the companies [in the malls, 
and in advertisements in many publications] won't do that research; 
they'll just look in their books under your surname, and tell you what's 
there.
 
All that will tell you is that there is (or once was) a person sharing 
your surname who bore arms. Suppose your name were "Jones"; it wouldn't 
be very significant to learn that there was once an English armiger 
named "Jones".
 
           - Josh Mittleman (mittle@panix.com)
 
5: What is the difference between a coat of arms and a crest?
=============================================================
 
Many people mistakenly call a shield bearing arms a crest, for example 
in the phrase "my family's crest", which usually refers to the shield 
itself, or perhaps a badge.
 
A full English coat of arms (an "achievement") consists of:
 
 - a shield (with arms painted on it, obviously);
 - above the shield, a helm or helmet;
 - hanging from the helm, the mantling, which represents a piece of 
   cloth used for protection from the sun. The mantling is frequently 
   arranged in decorative swirls around the shield, suggesting a tattered    
   cloth hacked about in fighting;
 - a torse, or wreath, being twists of cloth wound around the helmet;
 - the crest, sitting on the torse.
 
There may also be, if the bearer is entitled to them:
 
 - a supporter on each side of the shield (in some cases there may be 
   only one supporter);
 - a compartment for the supporters to stand on;
 - one or more collars of orders of knighthood surrounding the shield, 
   or symbols of office (eg batons) behind it.
 
Not all the elements have to be present; the essential part is the 
shield. There may also be other bits and pieces, such as mottos, badges 
or war cries.
 
Achievements in other countries frequently differ: for example the torse is
not very common on the continent, and coronets are commonly found in French 
heraldry.
 
Any book should have illustrations of many different achievements, with 
different selections of these elements.
 
 
6: How do you blazon a coat of arms?
====================================
 
Coats of arms are described in a technical language, devised over the 
centuries by heralds, with the aim of describing even the most complex 
coats concisely and unambiguously.
 
This language cannot be summarised usefully in the space of a FAQ. The 
books in the bibliography cover this in detail: those by Moncrieffe, 
Franklyn, Boutell (Brooke-Little) and Friar are particularly useful in 
my opinion.
 
 
7: What's the SCA? How does it relate to rec.heraldry?
======================================================
 
The SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) is an international  
living-history society which researches and recreates many elements of 
medieval life, from battles to feasts. It has an active group of 
heralds, kings-of-arms and so on, who exercise considerable influence 
over the heraldry used in the SCA's activities.
 
There are other such groups, but the SCA is by far the largest.
 
Many SCA heralds participate in rec.heraldry, but please keep 
SCA-specific discussion in more appropriate fora (see question 2).
 
 
8: What do arms mean?
=====================
 
Without knowing the circumstances of the original grant, it is difficult 
to say whether a coat means anything at all, except that someone 
(grantee or herald) liked the design.
 
Some arms ("canting" arms) contain a charge whose name is related to the 
surname of the bearer (e.g. de Trumpington: Azure, crusily, two trumpets 
pileways Or). This can be taken to the extent of becoming a rebus 
puzzle -- the Borough of Congleton bears Sable, on water in base 
barry-wavy azure and argent, on a tun between two conger eels argent, a 
lion statant-guardant Or, which decodes to Conger-Leo-Tun.
 
Other coats bear charges chosen for some perceived property, e.g. 
a lion for courage, fighting spirit or nobility. 
 
Often a coat will contain charges alluding to the original grantee's  
career or interests; for example medieval merchants and guildsmen often 
included the tools of their trade. These may become less appropriate as 
the coat is passed down through the generations, or their significance 
is forgotten. Quite elaborate schemes can be developed: the current 
Governor General of New Zealand has a coat based on the theme "a cat 
among the pigeons", which is apparently how she sees her career.
 
Some charges were taken from the arms of a bearer's feudal overlord. For 
example, the Maltese cross in the arms of several towns in Switzerland 
is a reference to the Knights of Malta, who were once sovereign in that 
area.
 
 
9: How inviolable is the rule of tincture?
==========================================
 
The "colours" used on shields are strictly called tinctures; there is a  
limited range which varies somewhat from place to place and time to 
time. These tinctures are divided into two groups: gold and silver, 
which are called the metals, and all the others, which are called the 
colours.
 
In Woodward's words, it is a "primary heraldic canon" that colour is 
not placed on colour, nor metal on metal. This rule was used to ensure 
that coats of arms could be easily recognised at a distance or in the 
heat of battle. 
 
It is commonly said that the arms of Jerusalem (Argent, a cross potent  
between four crosses Or) are the only counterexample. However, Woodward 
quotes several examples from continental heraldry in which the "rule" is 
broken: e.g. Grasse (Azure, ten stars Gules, 1, 2, 3 and 4) and Doro 
(Argent, a lion Or). Augmentations of honour sometimes breach the rule 
as well, and a chief of colour is often, especially in continental 
heraldry, placed on top of a simpler coat, giving an appearance of 
colour on colour.
 
What _is_ certain is that colour on colour or metal on metal is 
exceedingly uncommon or non-existent in English, French and Scottish 
heraldry, and that the Kings of Arms in Scotland and England would not 
grant such an arrangement today.
 
In other countries the rule is less rigidly followed, and in some, such 
as Hungary, colour on colour is very common. Most of the books in 
English reflect English or Scottish heraldic practice and ignore the 
heraldry of other nations.
 
 
10: Is the Court of Chivalry dead?
==================================
 
In mediaeval times heraldry was strictly regulated, and in England there 
was a Court of Chivalry to deal with heraldic jurisdiction. This court 
had a chequered history, going into abeyance more than once.
 
This English Court of Chivalry most recently sat in 1954, after a long 
period of disuse. During that judgement (a case of assumption of 
another's arms) it was declared that the Court should sit only in very 
exceptional circumstances. There have been changes in the English legal 
system since 1954 which would make it difficult for the Court to sit 
again without legislation. Notwithstanding this, the current (1994) 
Somerset Herald and Norroy and Ulster King of Arms have both stated 
their opinion that the Court could still sit.
 
The situation is quite different in Scotland: Lyon Court functions as it 
always has.
 
 
11: What heraldic software is available?
========================================
 
The program BLAZONS does a good job within its limitations. It is 
available from:
 
   ftp.cac.psu.edu, /pub/genealogy/programs/blazons.zip
 
NB: this zip file must be pkunzipped with the -d switch to create the 
directories it needs. 
 
 
12: Is there a computerised Ordinary available to download?
===========================================================
 
(An Ordinary is a reference book which lists shields of arms by the 
charges they contain, which obviously helps identify an unknown shield.)
 
The SCA has one, but it covers only SCA heraldry. It is available by ftp 
from:
 
   vela.acs.oakland.edu (141.210.10.2), /pub/heralds/armorials
   nimbus.gp.cs.cmu.edu (128.2.218.62), /usr/kvs/pub
 
Unfortunately, that's it. Clearly a computerised ordinary is a "good thing"
that ought to be done;  it's the sort of thing that could be done with a
scanner, a little programming and a group of volunteers. 
 
 
13: Where can I find heraldic clip-art on the net?
==================================================
 
Nowhere, apparently. The question has frequently been asked but never 
answered.
 
 
14: What are some books I can turn to to learn more?
====================================================
 
The following are a few of the many books on heraldry and the work of 
heralds. The list is specifically aimed at the beginner, but includes 
the most often quoted refernces (Papworth, Woodward, Fairburn).
 
Heraldry books can be hard to track down. One very good source is:
  
   Heraldry Today, Parliament Piece, Ramsbury, Wiltshire SN8 2QH, ENGLAND.
 
Get to know your local second-hand book dealer too!
 
Boutell, C. (Revised J.P. Brooke-Little) _Boutell's Heraldry_. London, 
1863 (latest edition 1983).
 
Brooke-Little, J.P. _An Heraldic Alphabet_. London, 1973 (revised 
edition 1985).
 
Burke, Sir Bernard. _The General Armory of England, Ireland, Scotland 
and Wales_. Heraldry Today, first printed 1842; final edition 1884; 
reprinted 1984.
 
Dennys, R. _The Heraldic Imagination_. London, 1975.
 
Dennys, R. _Heraldry and the Heralds_. London, 1982.
 
Elvin, C.N. _A Dictionary of Heraldry_. Heraldry Today, 1889; reprinted 
1977.
 
Evans, I.O. _The Observer's Book of Flags_. Fredrick Warne and Co., 
London, 1975.
 
Fairburn, J. _Fairburn's Book of Crests of the Families of Britain and 
Ireland_. 1905, reprinted 1983.
 
Fox-Davis, A.C. (revised and annotated J.P. Brooke-Little). _A Complete
Guide to Heraldry_. London, 1909; revised edition 1985.
 
Franklyn, J. _Shield and Crest_. MacGibbon and Kee, London, 1960; 
revised edition 1967.
 
Friar, S. (ed) _A New Dictionary of Heraldry_. Alphabooks, London, 1987.
 
MacKinnon, C. _The Observer's Book of Heraldry_. Fredrick Warne and Co, 
London.
 
Moncrieffe, Sir Ian, and Pottinger, D. _Simple Heraldry_. London, 1953.
 
Neubecker, O. _Heraldry: Symbols, Sources and Meaning_. London, 1976.
 
Papworth, J. _Ordinary of British Armorials: An Alphabetical Dictionary 
of Coats of Arms Belonging to Families in Great Britain & Ireland_. 
Heraldry Today, Bath 1884, reprinted 1977.
 
Scott-Giles, C.W. _The Romance of Heraldry_. London, revised edition 1967.
 
von Volbroth, C.A. _Heraldry: Customs, Rules and Styles_. Poole, 1981.
 
von Volbroth, C.A. (ed. D.H.B. Chesshyre) _Heraldry of the World_. 
London, 1973.
 
Wagner, Sir Anthony. _Heraldry in England_. London, 1946.
 
Woodcock, T. and Robinson, J.M. _The Oxford Guide to Heraldry_. OUP, 
Oxford, 1988.
 
    [An excellent general introduction, with much material not 
    found in the other introductions listed here, but much more 
    reliable on English heraldry than any other countries]
 
Woodward, J. and Burnett, G.A. _Treatise on Heraldry, British and 
Foreign_. 1891, reprinted 1969, with new introduction by L.G. Pine, 
Charles E Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont.
 
A very large and scholarly bibiliography of heraldic references was 
compiled by David Sanders (ae766@yfn.ysu.edu). It covers the entire 
world,  and several centuries. It is available for anonymous FTP
from bliss.chmeds.ac.nz (192.101.16.1) as heraldry/sanders.bib
 
 
15: Addresses of national heraldic and genealogical associations.
=================================================================
 
The following are addresses of heraldic associations and authorities.
 
Only national associations are listed; there are numerous local and 
regional societies in many countries and the national societies should be 
able to put you in touch with them.
 
[Unfortunately I cannot reliably post accented characters, so accents 
have had to be omitted.]
 
Some of these are undoubtedly out of date. Jim Terzian 
(JRT@ix.netcon.com) is coordinating the World Heraldic Authorities 
Project (PO Box 4520, Foster City, CA 94404, USA), which aims to collect 
and publicise reliable information about heraldic authorities and 
societies world-wide.
 
Australia:
 
   The Heraldry Council of Australia.
   PO Box B, Marden, SA 5070.
 
   The Heraldry Society (Australian Branch),
   31 Crawford Road, Lower Templestowe 3107, Vict.
 
   The Heraldry Society of Australia,
   3 Manor Grove, North Caufield 3161, Vict.
 
Austria:
 
   Heraldisch-Genealogishe Gesellschaft,
   Haardorf 4a. A1010, Wien 1.
 
Belgium:
 
   Heraldique et Genealogique de Belgique,
   Musees Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire,
   Avenue des Nerviens 10, B-1040, Bruxelles.
 
   L'Office Genealogique et Heraldique de Belgigue,
   Parc du Cinquantenaire 10, B-1040, Bruxelles.
 
Canada:
   
   Canadian Heraldic Authority
   Office of the Governor-General, Government House, 1 Sussex Drive, 
   Ottawa K1A 0A1.
 
   Heraldry Society of Canada,
   PO Box 922, Station "B", Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 5P9.
 
Denmark:
 
   Heraldic Scandanavia Societas,
   Sigmundsvej 8, DK-2880, Bagsvaerd.
 
   Dansk Genealogisk Institut,
   Norre Voldgade 80, 1358 Kobenhavn.
 
   Societas Heraldics Scandanavia,
   Azaleavej 26, DK-2500, Valby.
 
   Nordisk Flaggskrift,
   Solbakken, 3140 Aalsgaarde.
 
England and Wales:
 
   The College of Arms,
   Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4BT.
 
   The Heraldry Society,
   44-45 Museum St, London WC1A 1LY.
 
   Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies,
   Northgate, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1BA.
 
Finland:
 
   Heraldica Scandanavia,
   Injala Gard, SF-03400, Vichtis.
 
   Suomen Heraldinen Seura,
   Runebergenkatu 67 A 12, SF-00260, Helsinki.
 
   Finlands Nationalkommitte for Genealogi och Heraldik,
   Irjala Gard, SF-03400, Vichtis.
 
   Genealogiska Samfundet i Finland,
   Snellmannsgatan 9-11, 00170, Helsingfors.
 
   Heraliske Sallskapet i Finland,
   Lonnrotsgatan 23-A, 00129, Helsingfors.
 
France:
 
   La Socie'te Franc,aise D'Heraldique et de Sigillographie,
   60, rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75003, Paris.
 
   La Societie du grand Armorial de France,
   179 Boul. Haussman, Paris.
 
   Federation des Socie'te's de Ge'ne'alogie, d'Heraldique et de 
   Sigillographie,
   64 Rue de Richelieu 75002, Paris.
 
Germany:
 
   Der Herold,
   Archivstarsse 12-14, D-14196, Berlin (Dahlem) 33.
 
   Genealogisch-Heraldishe Gesellschaft,
   Postfach 2062, D-37010, Goettingen.
 
   Wappen Herold,
   Deutsche Heraldische Gesellschaft, Postfach 556, D-7000,
   Stuttgart 1.
 
Hungary: (tentative)
 
   Magyar Heraldikai es Geneologiai Tarsasag
   Elte University of Budapest, Budapest, v. Pesti Barnabas Utca 1.
 
Iceland:
 
   Icelandic Heraldry Society,
   Bolstadarhild 16, Reykjavic.
 
International:
 
   Academe Internationale d'Heraldique,
   4 bis Bvd de Glatigney, F-78000, Versailles, France.
 
   Confederation Internationale de Genealogie et d'Heraldique,
   24 Rue St Loius en L'ile, 75004 Paris, France.
 
   International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Studies,
   Harmignies, Rue Martin Lindehens, 57, B-1150 Bruxelles,
   Belgium.
 
   International Fellowship of Armorists (Heraldry International),
   Werastr. 105, D-7000 Stuttgart 1, West Germany.
 
   International Genealogical Institute,
   Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints,
   50 East Smith Temple St, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
 
Ireland:
 
   The Chief Herald of Ireland's Office,
   2 Kildare St, Dublin.
 
   The Heraldry Scoiety of Ireland,
   Castle Matrix, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.
 
Italy:
 
   Aradico Collegio,
   16 Via Santa Maria dell'Anima, Roma.
 
   Institutio Italiano di Genealogia e Araldica,
   Palazzo della Scimma, 18 Via dei Portohesi, Roma.
 
Japan:
 
   The Heraldry Society of Japan,
   3-88-26 Higashi Toyonaka, Toyonaka, Osaka.
 
Luxemborg:
 
   Conseil Heraldique de Luxembourg,
   25 Rue Bertholet.
 
Netherlands:
 
   Koninklijk Nederlands Genootschap voor Geslact en Wapenkunde,
   5 Bleijenburg, Den Haag.
 
   Central Bureau voor Genealogie,
   PO Box 11755, 2502 The Hague.
 
New Zealand:
 
   The Heraldry Society of New Zealand,
   60 Sayegh St, St Heliers, Auckland.
 
   The Heraldry Society (New Zealand Branch),
   PO Box 68-051, Newton, Auckland.
 
Norway:
 
   Heraldisk Forening Norsk,
   Cappealan, Bygdoy Alle B, Oslo 2.
 
   Kunstindustrimuseet i Oslo,
   St Olav's Gate 1, 0165 Oslo 1.
 
   Middelalderforum,
   Universitetet i Oslo, Historisk Institutt, PO Box 1008-Blindern,
   N-0315 Oslo 3.
 
   Norsk Vapenring,
   PO Box 958-Oslo Sentrum, N-0104 Oslo 1.
 
   Norsk Slekthistorik Forening,
   Ullernveien 2 B, 0280 Oslo.
 
   Universitetet i Oslo Ethnografisk Museum,
   Frederiksgate 2, 0164 Oslo 1.
 
Poland:
 
   Heraldic Records Archive,
   Warsawa, ul Dluga 7.
 
Portugal:
 
  Institutio Portuges de Heraldica
  Convento do Carmo, Largo do carmo, P-1200 Lisboa.
 
Scotland:
 
   Lord Lyon King of Arms, and the Court of Lord Lyon,
   H.M. New Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YT.
 
   The Heraldry Society of Scotland,
   25 Craientinny Cres., Edinburgh EH7 6QA.
 
   The Scottish Genealogical Society,
   21 Howard Place, Edinburgh.
 
South Africa:
 
   The Heraldry Society of Southern Africa,
   PO Box 4039, Cape Town 8000.
 
Sweden:
 
   Heraldiska Salskap,
   Vasta Sveriges Fortrolighenen 4, S-41270 Goteborg.
 
   Svenska Heraldiska Foreningen,
   Sodra Vagen 12, S-41254, Goteborg.
 
   Svenska Nationalkommitten for Genealogi och Heraldik,
   Bernadottebiblioteket Kungi, Slottet, S-11130, Stockholm.
 
   Svenska Heraldiska Foreningen,
   PO Box 88, S-46700 Grastorp.
 
   Vastra Sveriges Heraldiska Salskap,
   Tanneskarsgatan 277, S-42160 Vastra Frolunda.
 
Switzerland:
 
   Heraldische Schweizersche Gesellscaft,
   Luzern, Lutzelmasstrasse, 4.
 
United States of America:
 
   New England Historic Genealogical Society,  
   99-101 Newbury Stree, Boston, MA 02116.
 
   North American Institute of Heraldic and Flag Studies,
   North Planet Road, Box 88, Boston, MA 02666.
 
   American College of Heraldry,
   Drawer CG, University, Alabama 35486.
 
   The Augustan Society Inc,
   1510 Cravens Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501.
 
   Genealogical and Heraldic Institute of America,
   111 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
 
   National Genealogical Society,
   4527 17th St. North, Arlington, VA 22207-2363.
 
16: Distribution:
================
 
The document is posted to rec.heraldry, news.answers and rec.answers in the
middle of each month, close to the 14th. The latest version is available for
anonymous ftp from bliss.chmeds.ac.nz heraldry/heraldry.faq
 
This document is a compilation of material from many sources and readers of
rec.heraldry.  Please feel free to redistribute it any way you like; it would
be nice if you left my name, and other contributers names, in it, and were
sure to distribute only the latest version. 

Gordon Findlay.
--