The Elements Of Heraldry

by William Henry Whitmore

Explains the basic principles and terminology used in the classification, description, design and use of hereditary emblems of genealogical coats-of-arms

Genres: History, Reference

106 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1968

About the author

William Henry Whitmore was a Boston businessman, politician and genealogist.

Reviews

[Laura Verret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the medieval age. I love the armor, the chivalry, the glorious quests, and the unparalleled heroes which achieved them – King Arthur, Beowulf, Charlemagne, Robin Hood, etc. And so, when I found this book on the ‘elements of heraldry’ I snatched it up thinking, “How quaint! And how medieval!”

Written in 1866, The Elements of Heraldry IS quaint. At the time that it was written, there was a resurgence of interest in heraldry in America – no doubt, as it did for me, the idea seemed noble and lordly. The Elements can be considered a primer of sorts. It minutely describes the various elements of a coat of arms, and provides a dictionary of heraldic terms and variations.

Conclusion. A very sweet book, which addresses an archaic topic. All of the information contained therein can be found online, but it is worth having in one volume. I look forward to learning more about this topic.