SCA College of Arms - Armory Articles

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This page is a directory of articles on devices/coats of arms. These articles cover both SCA practice and real-world heraldic practices and should be of interest to submitters as well as heralds of all levels in the SCA.

Lessons on various aspects of SCA heraldry:

Heraldic Primer (incomplete)
Assorted Lessons in SCA Heraldry
A series of short lessons in assorted aspects of SCA heraldry.
What is a Device?
What is a Badge?
Period Style: An Introduction
A Grammar of Blazonry
or Master Bruce's Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Blazon
Argent Snail's Armory Insta-Boing Checklist
nine basic checks for any SCA device or badge submission
Counting Complexity in Devices and Badges
how to apply the SCA's rule-of-thumb regarding heraldic complexity
Reserved and Prohibited Charges
heraldic design-elements whose use is restricted in the SCA
The Philosophical Basis of Difference
or What are Little CD's Made of?
An Essay on Seme
Ermine Spots
Furs
An Essay on Mons
Modar's Heraldry Page
a large collection of articles, and tools and forms to assist in SCA heraldry
Heraldry Links and References
includes references and articles on names, armory, titles, flags & banners, and tournaments
Pennsic Traceable Art Project
NOTE: Use of this traceable art in a submission is NOT a guarantee that it will pass Laurel. These images are provided as a service to SCA heralds and their clients.
Khevron's heraldry page
contains the Principality of Oertha Roll of Arms and Order of precedence
The Meridian's Illuminated Herald's Guide
Medieval Heraldry Archive
The Academy of Saint Gabriel collection of articles on medieval and renaissance heraldry

Articles on real-world heraldic practices:

An Annotated Bibliography of Scottish Heraldic Materials
Abatements and Augmentations of Honor
The Law of Arms in Medieval England
Late Mediaeval Oaths for Kings of Arms, Heralds, and Pursuivants
Period Rolls of Arms and Armorials (and how to find them)
University of Notre Dame's Heraldic Dictionary
a primer to aid in understanding blazons (descriptions) of heraldry. With illustrations of field divisions, animals, and inanimate charges.
The College of Arms of England and Wales
official repository of the coats of arms and pedigrees of English, Welsh, Northern Irish and Commonwealth families and their descendants. Its records also include official copies of the records of Ulster King of Arms the originals of which remain in Dublin
Heraldica - François Velde's Selective Heraldry Archive
a variety of information on heraldry and related topics, in the form of texts, images and links
The Zurich Roll of Arms
the oldest known surviving original of a roll of arms. Contains many pictures of armory, some quite large.

SCA Armory

SCA Kingdom Arms, Badges, and More
information about armory and "colors" for each kingdom in the SCA, and for badges for various SCA offices and for kingdom awards.
Territorial Arms of the Knowne World
A collection of emblazons of various branches of the SCA.
An Tir Roll of Arms
Calontir armorial
Khevron's heraldry page
contains the Principality of Oertha Roll of Arms and Order of precedence
Lochac Roll of Arms
Northshield Roll of Arms
Outlands Roll of Arms
West Kingdom Roll of Arms