Heraldic Resources
An assembled collection of heraldic authorities, learned societies, historical publications, and scholarly references for those wishing to explore the art, history, and enduring traditions of heraldry. Curated to encourage further study, thoughtful enquiry, and a deeper appreciation of this ancient discipline.
Explore the Collection
I. Heraldic Authorities
Guardians of Armorial Tradition
Canadian Heraldic Authority
Canada · Established 1988
Responsible for granting and registering arms, flags,
and badges under the authority of the Governor General
of Canada.
Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland
Ireland · Established 1943 (origins 1552)
Responsible for granting and confirming coats of arms
and preserving Ireland's historic heraldic records as part of
the National Library of Ireland.
College of Arms
England, Wales & Northern Ireland · Established 1484
Responsible for granting and recording coats of arms, maintaining genealogical records, and overseeing
heraldic matters under the authority of the Crown.
Court of the Lord Lyon
Scotland · Historic origins; statutory register established 1672
Responsible for granting and matriculating coats of
arms, maintaining Scotland's official armorial register,
and enforcing Scottish heraldic law.
Bureau of Heraldry
South Africa · Established 1963
Responsible for the registration and protection of coats
of arms, badges, and other heraldic emblems under
South Africa's statutory heraldic system.
II. Learned Societies
The Fellowship of Heraldic Scholarship
Organizations dedicated to the study, preservation, and advancement of heraldic knowledge, bringing together scholars, artists, and enthusiasts through research, publications, and the exchange of ideas.
Canada & North America
Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
Canada · Established 1966
Dedicated to the study, promotion, and preservation of heraldry in Canada through education, publications, and the advancement of Canadian armorial traditions
The American Heraldry Society
United States · Established 2003
Promotes the study and proper use of personal and institutional heraldry in the United States through education, research, publications, and public engagement.
British Isles
The Heraldry Society
England · Established 1947
Dedicated to advancing the study and appreciation of heraldry, genealogy, and related disciplines through scholarly publications, lectures, research, and education.
The Bookplate Society
England · Established 1972
Dedicated to the study, collection, and preservation of bookplates, including armorial ex-libris, through scholarly publications, exhibitions, and the appreciation of engraving and graphic arts.
The Heraldry Society of Scotland
Scotland · Established 1977
Promotes the study, understanding, and proper use of Scottish heraldry through research, publications, lectures, and the preservation of Scotland's armorial traditions.
The White Lion Society
England · Established 1986
Supports the College of Arms through the preservation of its historic buildings, conservation of heraldic manuscripts, and enrichment of its archives and library.
Continental Europe
Société française d’héraldique et de sigillographie
France · Established 1937
A learned society devoted to the study of heraldry and sigillography, advancing scholarship through publications, conferences, and the encouragement of historical research.
Norsk Heraldisk Forening
Norway · Established 1969
Dedicated to the study and appreciation of Norwegian heraldry and related traditions, including flags, seals, and historical armorial symbolism.
Heraldischer Verein Zum Kleeblatt
Germany · Established 1888
A historic German heraldic society dedicated to heraldic research, armorial documentation, and the preservation of heraldic traditions through publications and its register of arms.
Societas Heraldica Scandinavica
Scandinavia · Established 1959
An international Nordic society promoting heraldic scholarship through research, publications, and the preservation of Scandinavian armorial traditions.
Suomen Heraldinen Seura
Finland · Established 1957
Promotes the study and artistic development of Finnish heraldry, encouraging sound heraldic design and the preservation of Finland’s distinctive armorial heritage.
Australasia
The Australian Heraldry Society
Australia · Established 1992 (amalgamated 2018)
Dedicated to advancing the study, appreciation, and practice of heraldry in Australia through education, scholarly publications, research, and the preservation of armorial traditions.
International & Other Societies
The Heraldry Society of New Zealand
New Zealand · Established 1962
Promotes the study and appreciation of heraldry in New Zealand through scholarly publications, lectures, research, and the preservation of the nation's distinctive armorial heritage.
The Harleian Society
England · Established 1869
A historical and genealogical publishing society dedicated to preserving and publishing heraldic visitations, parish registers, and manuscripts relating to genealogy, family history, and heraldry.
International Association of Amateur Heralds
International · Online Association
An international community of heraldic enthusiasts dedicated to advancing the art and science of heraldry through education, discussion, and voluntary assistance with armorial design.
III. The Printed Library
Works of Scholarship, Tradition & Reference
A selection of distinguished works, from classical heraldic treatises to modern scholarship, offering both foundational knowledge and deeper insight into the history, principles, and practice of heraldry.
Foundations of Heraldry
Boutell's Heraldry — Charles Boutell
Concise Encyclopedia of Heraldry — Guy Cadogan Rothery
Basic Heraldry — Stephen Friar & John Ferguson
A Dictionary of Heraldry — Stephen Friar
A Heraldic Alphabet — J. P. Brooke-Little
Advanced Study & Reference
A Dictionary of Mottoes — L. G. Pine
Heraldry: Customs, Rules and Styles — Carl-Alexander von Volborth
The Heraldic Imagination — Rodney Dennys
Scots Heraldry: A Practical Handbook — Sir Thomas Innes
Royal Heraldry of England — J. H. & R. V. Pinches
The Royal Arms: Its Graphic & Decorative — Charles Hasler
Heraldry: Sources, Symbols and Meaning — Ottfried Neubecker
Historical Treatises & Classical Work
A Complete Guide to Heraldry — Arthur Charles Fox-Davies
The Art of Heraldry: An Encyclopaedia of Armory — A.C Fox-Davies
Armorial Families, Volumes I & II — Arthur Charles Fox-Davies
Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorials — John W. Papworth
A Treatise on Heraldry, British and Foreign — John Woodward
Fairbairn's Book of Crests — James Fairbairn
Burke’s General Armory — Sir Bernard Burke
Canadian Heraldic Scholarship
Beddoe's Canadian Heraldry — Alan B. Beddoe
A Canadian Heraldic Primer — Kevin Greaves
Armorial du Canada français — E.-Z. Massicotte & Régis Roy
Birk's Armorial Heritage in Canada — Hans Dietrich Birk
Canada: Symbols of Sovereignty — Sir Conrad Swan
IV. Digital References
Knowledge Beyond the Printed Page
A curated selection of online references, illustrated glossaries, digitized publications, and specialist resources offering convenient access to heraldic knowledge, both historical and contemporary.
A Guide to Blazonry
Kevin Greaves · Royal Heraldry Society of Canada · 2014
An illustrated guide to the language and structure of heraldic blazon, explaining the principles and conventions used to describe armorial bearings accurately.
Dictionary of British Arms: Medieval Ordinary
Thomas Woodcock et al. · Society of Antiquaries of London · 1992–2014
A comprehensive four-volume reference documenting medieval British coats of arms, arranged by heraldic design to assist with the identification and study of historical armorial bearings.
Medieval Armorials
Independent Digital Collection · Medieval Heraldry
A specialist online collection devoted to medieval rolls of arms and historical armorial manuscripts, providing valuable references for the study and identification of European heraldry.
A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry
James Parker · Historical Reference · 1894
A comprehensive historical dictionary of heraldic terminology, providing definitions and illustrations drawn from the traditions of British heraldry.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies · 1909 · Digitized Historical Text
A classic heraldic treatise examining the principles, history, and conventions of British heraldry, freely accessible in digital form.
Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry
Bruce Miller · Illustrated Reference
An extensive illustrated catalogue of heraldic charges, including historical examples and designs associated with the Society for Creative Anachronism.
European Heraldry
Independent Online Reference · European Armorial Traditions
An illustrated collection of European coats of arms, offering reference material on the armorial traditions of royal houses, territories, and historic institutions.
Heraldic Science / Héraldique
Auguste Vachon · Specialist Heraldic Research
A bilingual resource exploring heraldic scholarship, historical interpretation, and the development of armorial traditions, with particular attention to Canadian heraldry.
V. Archives & Registers
The Documentary Record of Heraldry
Historical armorials, official registers, manuscript collections, and archival records preserving the documentary foundations of heraldry and providing valuable resources for scholarly enquiry.
Official Heraldic Registers
Historical Armorials & Manuscripts
VI. Further Exploration
Beyond the Boundaries of the Shield
Selected resources exploring the wider world of heraldry and its connections to genealogy, vexillology, art, history, and the many traditions with which it shares a common heritage..
Fr. Guy Selvester · Ecclesiastical Heraldry
A specialist publication examining the design, symbolism, and traditions of ecclesiastical heraldry, with particular attention to the armorial bearings of clergy and religious institutions.
Related Disciplines & Research
Historical Traditions & Education
The Convention of the Baronage of Scotland
Scotland · Baronial Heritage & Historical Traditions
An organization dedicated to preserving Scotland's baronial heritage, offering insight into feudal dignities, heraldic customs, and the historical traditions of the Scottish baronage.
Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies
England · Heraldic & Genealogical Education
A specialist educational institution offering courses, qualifications, and research guidance in heraldry, genealogy, family history, and related historical disciplines.
Independent Heraldic Scholarship
Heraldry — David B. Appleton
United States · Independent Heraldic Commentary
A collection of research, observations, and illustrated commentary exploring heraldry in historical and contemporary settings, including its expression in art, architecture, and everyday life.
Exarandorum
The Flag Institute
United Kingdom · Vexillology & Flag Studies · Established 1971
An organization dedicated to the study, documentation, and appreciation of flags, advancing vexillological knowledge through research, publications, education, and design guidance.
Digital Sigillography Resource (Digisig)
United Kingdom · Historical Seals & Sigillography
A scholarly digital resource bringing together historical seal records and collections, supporting research into medieval seals, their imagery, and their significance in the study of identity and heraldry.
A Library in Good Company
On the Exchange of Knowledge
A worthy library is never truly complete. Recommendations of distinguished publications, scholarly resources, and institutions are always welcome, as are observations that may enrich the accuracy and value of this collection.
Knowledge is best preserved when it is generously shared.