A selection of articles from the society’s publications edited by Dr Paul A Fox.
The Heraldry Society’s main publication The Coat of Arms has now been in existence for nearly seventy years and contains a wealth of original material on diverse topics. The Heraldry Gazette has gradually evolved from being a simple newsletter to having more illustrated features. Series 1 and Series 2 of the Coat of Arms are available for purchase on CD ROM via this website. Some paper copies are also still available, please contact the Honorary Librarian. The principal papers from Series 3 and Series 4 are now available online, with a delay of one year following paper publication.
This section has two principal aims: firstly to showcase some of the best of our published material published in our older journals, and secondly, to create an on-line heraldic resource.
The Articles are presented in 19 sections:
An augmentation of honour is usually an addition made to an existing coat of arms by the sovereign to commemorate some notable achievement, usually in the military sphere. In certain instances the "augmentation" comprises an entire achievement
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The heraldic badge is a personal emblem granted for usage in contexts other than that of a shield, such as on a letterhead. The standard combines elements from a person's full heraldic achievement, and it to be distinguished from a simple banner of the arms
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Aspects of the working lives of heralds at the College of Arms past and present, including the High Court of Chivalry, which last sat in 1954
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The science of armoury offers a rich and diverse international tapestry. There are articles in the section covering Italy, Spain, Sweden, the USA, and other parts of Europe.
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The focus here is on the medieval period, from the early formative stages of heraldry in the twelfth-century through to the fourteenth-century. Highlights include an illustrated version of a poem written to commemorate the siege of Caerlaverock in 1300
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The established church has maintained a powerful interest in heraldry from the earliest times. Find articles on topics ranging from the medieval to the modern era.
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The stories of how and why the coats of arms of some famous individuals came into being are of exceptional interest, Here Shakespeare rubs shoulders with Oliver Cromwell and others
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In the Middle Ages it was assumed that coats of arms had always existed, and so it was necessary to invert arms for the great historical characters of the past.
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Funeral hatchments are commonly seen in our churches, a tradition which began in the seventeenth-century. Their exact function, and point of origin, have been much debated.
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This is the spot for information on specific heraldic charges. There are very many of these, and so far only two are discussed: the fleur de lis and the cross patonce.
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Explore the of the world of the heraldic artist with its diverse ramifications. These include stained glass, bookplates, armorial pendants and porcelain. The influence of textiles on heraldry is also explored here in two articles.
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This section covers the inheritance of maternal arms and how the arms of different members within single family have been made distinct at different times.
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Racing colours remind us of the medieval knight wearing his coat of arms on his surcoat, and indeed some colours are derived from the arms of of the owner.
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