Resources
Useful books and webpages about Heraldry

Books &c.

For a more comprehensive list, see: Judy Gerjuoy & François Velde, “Annotated Heraldry Bibliography” 

Adrian Ailes, “The Knight, Heraldry and Armour: The Role of Recognition and the Origins of Heraldry”, in Medieval Knighthood IV: Papers from the fifth Strawberry Hill Conference, Christopher Harper-Bill and Ruth Harvey, eds, The Boydell Press (Woodbridge) 1992, ISBN 0851153194 (ISSN 09678069 Medieval Knighthood)
★★★★

Oswald Barron, “Heraldry”, in Encyclopædia Britannica 11th ed. (1910-11)
↪ Tim Starling’s facsimiles on Wikisource: HERALDRY  et seq.
↪ My XHTML version: Oswald Barron’s “Heraldry” ▶
★★★★★

Henry Bedingfield, Rouge Croix Pursuivant, and Peter Gwynn-Jones, Lancaster Herald, Heraldry, Magna Books 1993, ISBN 1854224336
☛ “An excellent introduction to English heraldry…” — François Velde
★★★

Charles Boutell, A Manual of Heraldry, Historical and Popular, Winsor & Newton (London) 1863
↪ Republished as English Heraldry in 1867 → facsimiles on Making of America website 
↪ Republished as Boutell’s Heraldry since 1950
↪ Revised by J.P. Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald, Frederick Warne 1988, ISBN 0723230935
★★

Gerard J. Brault, Early Blazon: Heraldic Terminology in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries with Special Reference to Arthurian Heraldry, The Boydell Press 1998, ISBN 0851157114
★★★

John Foley, The Guinness Encyclopedia of Signs and Symbols, Guinness Publishing 1993, ISBN 0851129455
★★★

A.C. Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry, Nelson 1909
↪ Revised and annotated by J.P. Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald, Nelson 1969, ISBN 0171441028
☛ “One of the standard, basic books on heraldry.” — Judy Gerjuoy
☛ “(which sometimes reads like a penal code)” — François Velde
★★★★

Stephen Friar, ed., A New Dictionary of Heraldry, Alphabooks 1987, ISBN 0906670446
★★★

― and John Ferguson, Basic Heraldry, The Herbert Press 1993, ISBN 1871569532
★★★

John Guillim (c. 1551–1621), A Display of Heraldrie 1610
↪ Paul Grant’s transcription: A Renaissance History of Heraldry: Guillim’s Display of Heraldry  
☛ “gives a valuable view of the decadent heraldry of the 17th century” — Oswald Barron
★★

W(illiam) H(enry) St. John Hope, A Grammar of English Heraldry, The Cambridge Manuals of Science and Literature, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge) 1913
↪ Republished as An Introduction to Heraldry, Dover Publications 2001, ISBN 0486417611
☛ A splendid little book with examples of blazon from the 13th century to the early 20th century
★★★★★

Charles MacKinnon of Dunakin, The Observer’s Book of Heraldry, Observer’s Pocket Series • 41, Frederick Warne (London) 1966, LCCN 67010967
☛ The book that sparked my interest in heraldry… but which now seems regrettably dogmatic in places
★★★

J.S. Milbourne, Heraldry, Foyles Handbook, W. & G. Foyle 1950
☛ Sometimes useful, if taken with with a handful of salt…
★

Per Mollerup, Marks of Excellence, Phaidon (London) 1997, ISBN 0714834483
☛ “An exploration of the trademark: its history, development, style and relevance.” — Phaidon catalogue
☛ Insightful about the use of heraldic motifs as trademarks… and the common design principles
★★★★★

Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk and Don Pottinger, Simple Heraldry, Cheerfully Illustrated, Nelson 1953; PRC 1993, ISBN 1856481158
☛ “Probably the best available introduction to heraldry.” — Judy Gerjuoy
★★★★

Ottfried Neubecker, with contributions by J.P. Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald, Heraldry: Sources, Symbols and Meaning. McGraw-Hill (Maidenhead) 1977; McGraw-Hill/Black Cat (London) 1988, ISBN 0748101985.
☛ “Recommended as a great introduction to heraldry. (That’s the book that hooked me!)” — François Velde
★★★

James Parker, A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry (1894)
↪ saitou & Jim Trigg’s online version 
★

Beryl Platts, Origins of Heraldry, Procter Press 1980, ISBN 0906650003
☛ Heraldry descends from Charlemagne through William I’s Flemish allies – intriguing but not wholly compelling
★★

Stephen Slater, The Complete Book of Heraldry: An international history of heraldry and its contemporary uses, Select Editions 1987, ISBN 1843096986; Lorenz Books 2002, ISBN 0754810623
↪ Republished as The Illustrated Book of Heraldry: An international history of heraldry and its contemporary uses, Hermes House 2002, ISBN 1844772241 (hc)
☛ “Excellent recent book, with plentiful illustrations and a wide geographical coverage.” — Judy Gerjuoy
★★★

― and Alfred Znamierowski, The World Encyclopedia of Flags and Heraldry: An international history of heraldry and its contemporary uses together with . . ., Lorenz Books 2007, ISBN 0754817806 (hc)
↪ An omnibus of the previous book and Znamierowski’s The World Encyclopedia of Flags
★★★

Carl-Alexander von Volborth, Heraldry: Customs, Rules and Styles , Omega Books 1983, ISBN 0907853471 (hc); Blandford Press 1987, ISBN 0713713909 (pb)
☛ “An excellent scholarly examination of heraldry … the illustrations are well worth emulation.” — Judy Gerjuoy
★★★★

―, The Art of Heraldry, Blandford Press 1981, ISBN 1850790116
☛ “Most worthwhile for any heraldic artist’s bookshelf.” — Judy Gerjuoy
★★★★

Terence Wise, Medieval Heraldry, Men-at-Arms•99, Osprey 1980–2006, ISBN 0850453488
★★

Anthony Wood, Heraldic Art and Design, Shaw & Sons 1996, ISBN 0721914608
★★

Thomas Woodcock, Somerset Herald, and John Martin Robinson, Maltravers Herald Extraordinary, The Oxford Guide to Heraldry, OUP (1988), ISBN 0192116584; Oxford Paperbacks 1990, ISBN 0192852248
★★★★

―, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, and ―, ―, Heraldry in Historic Houses of Great Britain, National Trust/Harry N. Abrams 2000, ISBN 0810966913
★★★

Alfred Znamierowski, The World Encyclopedia of Flags, Select Editions 2003, ISBN 1840384158
☛ See Slater and Znamierowski
★★★★

Websites

David B. Appleton, “New Directions in Heraldry” [PDF] , in The Baronage Magazine 

Brunor Averni, The School of Heraldry of Brunor Averni 
☛ Includes a nice gallery of Arthurian heraldry

Vladimir Baranov, “Self-Representation in Heraldry” , in Dress, Jewels, Arms and Coat of Arms: Material Culture and Self-Representation in the Late Middle Ages , Kiss Farkas Gabor, ed., Central European University

Iolair Brigantes, The College of Heraldry and Arms of Iolair Brigantes 

Martin Geoghegan, Coats of Arms from Ireland and around the World 

Martin Goldstraw, Cheshire Heraldry 

Ralf Hartemink, International Civic Arms 

Richard Hayton, Armorials of Families associated with Fortified Sites Within Yorkshire 
↪ new images to add 

―, Speed’s Heraldry 

W. F. Hogarth, The Baronage Magazine 

Lancashire County Council, Heraldry in Lancaster Castle 

Pascal Laparre, earlyBlazon.com 
☛ Also in French

Paula Kate Marmor et al., Elizabethan Heraldry 

Anthony Maxwell’s Scots Heraldry 
☛ A blog

Ilya Morozov, Blazons of Russian Towns 

University of Notre Dame, Heraldic Dictionary 

Mike Oettle, Armoria: Heraldry in South Africa/Heraldiek in Suid-Afrika 
☛ Also in Afrikaans

―, Armoria Familia: Family Arms in South Africa/Familiewappens in Suid-Afrika 
☛ Also in Afrikaans

Stephen J F Plowman TD FSA Scot, Online Heraldic Armorials 

Rob Raeside (Director), Flags of the World  mirror 

Gill Smith, Gilling and its Heraldry (with Stonegrave) 

Martin Sunnqvist, jur. kand., “The Law of Arms” 

Brian Timms, Studies in Heraldry 

François R. Velde, Heraldica 

Robert Young, Civic Heraldry of England & Wales 

Non-English-language websites

anon., Blason: Art heraldique ou Science des armoiries  • Liens heraldiques 

anon., Fränkische Wappenrolle 

Arnaud Bunel, Héraldique européenne 

Luís Belard da Fonseca, Heráldica Portuguesa 

SCA websites

The Society for Creative Anachronism has a lively heraldic tradition. The quality of the members’ arms is variable, but many are very imaginative.

“Mestra Rafaella d’Allemtejo”, An Tir College of Heralds 

“Sabine”, SilverDragon Heraldry 

“Aryanhwy merch Catmael”, Academy of S. Gabriel’s mediæval Heraldry Archive 

“Lady Amanda of Coldcastle”, Kingdom of Calontir Armorial 

Judy Gerjuoy (“Jaelle of Armida”), Assorted Lessons in SCA Heraldry 

Stephen Gold (“Iulstan Sigewealding”) and Timothy Shead (“Meradudd Cethin”), A Heraldic Primer 

“Lothar von Katzenellenbogen”, “Authentic Heraldry Made Simple” 

Ron Knight, Modar’s Heraldry Page 

“Guntram von Wolkenstein”, “Arms from Parker’s Glossary” 

―, “Arms from ‘The Siege of Caerlaverock’” 

Authorities & societies

Canada, The Canadian Heraldic Authority 
↪ The Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada 
↪ Le Registre public des armoiries, drapeaux et insignes du Canada 

Canada, The Royal Heraldary Society of Canada/La Société royale héraldique du Canada 

Ireland, Office of the Chief Herald 

Russia, Russian College of Heraldry 

Scotland, The Court of the Lord Lyon 

Scotland, The Heraldry Society of Scotland 

Scotland, The Society of Scottish Armigers (SSA) 

UK (not Scotland), The College of Arms 

UK (not Scotland), The White Lion Society: A Society of Friends of Her Majesty’s College of Arms 

UK (not Scotland), The Heraldry Society 

Regional societies: Birminhgham & Midland  Lancashire  Middlesex  Norfolk  Suffolk  Yorkshire 

USA, The American College of Heraldry 

USA, The American Heraldry Society 

USA, The United States Heraldic Registry 
☛ I’m not sure of the official status of this site; it appears to be connected to the Church of Latter Day Saints

Art &c.

Clipart & fonts

Florida’s Educational Technology Clearinghouse: “Heraldry Clipart ETC” «1» «2» «3» 
☛ Includes images from Oswald Barron’s “Heraldry”

Lord Kyl’s Clipart & Fonts 

James Wolf, Heraldry Clipart