A Complete Guide to Heraldry [Paperback]

Arthur Charles Fox-Davies (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007

Heraldry, the study of family crests and medieval coats of arms, is a science and art steeped in the tradition of familial honor and shaped by strong cords of ancestry and origin. Here Arthur Charles Fox-Davies describes the origin and importance of heraldry and the myriad elements and designs used in the coats of arms of England and Scotland. He explores the meaning of symbols like birds, fruit, flowers, crowns, coronets, flags, and mottoes, and extensively discusses their derivation and significance. With 770 detailed illustrations designed to aid in tracing family lineage, this book will help historians, genealogists, collectors, and anglophiles sift through the records of history and better understand the past.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Arthur Charles Fox-Davies was the author of four books on heraldry. Throughout his life, he campaigned against the bearing of coats of arms without lawful permission, as outlined in the Law of Arms.

Product Details

• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602390010
• ISBN-13: 978-1602390010
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,372,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent guide for heralds of all levels, June 20, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: A Complete Guide to Heraldry (Hardcover)

This is a classic work of heraldry, covering a vast range of knowledge. Fox-Davies' provides in-depth analysis of the history behind charges used in heraldry, explains many famous devices in heraldry and dispels many common heraldic myths. If you are interested in heraldry, this is the book to get

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are remotely interested, its a must have, December 19, 2007

By 

Floyd Jackson (Oklahoma City, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Complete Guide to Heraldry (Paperback)

I can not possibly imagine a more complete guide to Heraldry. This engaging book really brings you into the world of crests, family honor, and ancestry. It gives a comprehensive guide to all the symbols used, and their various meanings. If you are even remotely interested in Heraldry, pick this up today.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interpretation of Heraldry-Fox way, February 15, 2008

By 

Mirko Stojnic - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Complete Guide to Heraldry (Paperback)

A.C.Fox-Davies:HERALDRY
I already had a great respect for Mr.Fox-Davies, having two of his great books:THE ART of HERALDRY and HERALDRY-the magnificent pictorial archive for artists and designers. And I expected to learn quite a lot from the HERALDRY book.Guess,I was right.
.The texts are very,very good,BUT,there are just too many unnecessary and detailed descriptions of British and Scotch Armory.Was it because Mr.Fox-Davies wanted to show off( with his long description of many personal Arms,which I doubt had any great interest for the general reader-mentioning only a few Im sure he could have got his point) or maybe,he was just carried away by his wish too make a good(fat)book?Nevertheless,Mr.Fox-Davies is among the VERY FEW experts who dared mention the painstakingly long and slow development of Armory,from Moses and the Scriptures onwards,explaining that it were first the personal signs and symbols which existed long before the Heraldry proper.And are still going strong,not as Arms,but LOGOTYPES of more or less famous brands.
There is no" Deus-ex-Machina "Heraldry for Mr.Fox-Davies .It was a slow and painful process influenced by both the traditions and technology,development of society , classes and unfortunately.warfare..And I guess,Mr.Fox-Davies leans too much on the Crusades Myth,closed HELMETS etc..
By the way,closed helmets existed long,long before the iron clad warriors ! Many of the drawings and other examples are very good,so that the small percentage of superfluous ones,do not play a significant role.All in all,for anyone willing to learn more,and think while reading the book,the number of lines and pages should not be tiring.It is satisfying to know that even in the days when the book first appeared,there was somebody who was NOT a stereotype,somebody who really loved the job and loved the knowledge he so willingly transferred to his readers.