Copyright 1999-2004 by SBM - Upadated - 18 November 2004
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What can you tell me about these online heraldry companies that sell coats of arms? What is the Association for the Advancement of Heraldry (AAH)? Does the AAH charge for its services? .......Never! Does the AAH charge a membership fee or dues?.......No! How do I become a member of the AAH?
What's my coat of arms/family crest? According to the Laws of Arms in countries following the English tradition armorial bearings DO NOT belong to all persons of a given surname and may rightfully be borne ONLY by the direct descendants of the individual to whom they were first granted or allowed. See this enlightening leaflet published by the Society of Genealogists in London and this helpful article at the britianusa.com website. The right to historic arms may not be so clear-cut in countries where there is a tradition of clan-based heraldry. (See for example the article on this website by Michael Waas of the Westphalian Heraldry Society). If you're looking for information on or a rendering of a specific historic coat of arms, then please post your request on the AAH Message Board and we'll be glad to track it down for you free of charge. If you can't or haven't proven a link to a historic armiger, then you might consider posting a request on the AAH Message Board and we'll be glad to help you design and render a unique coat of arms free of charge. [BACK]
What can you tell me about these online heraldry companies that sell coats of arms? Formerly, the term "Bucket Shop" was used to describe a cheap saloon selling liquor by the bucket. Today it is largely used to describe an unethical or unlicensed or illegally operated and/or overly aggressive brokerage firm which sells securities that are typically poor investment opportunities. Amongst serious heraldic enthusiasts this term is frequently used to describe unscrupulous heraldry-mongers who dispense coats of arms by the bucket load with no regard for the rights of armigers. Typically, they have a large database which contains images of historic and/or bogus and/or inaccurate armorial bearings. Even if their renderings are accurate representations of historic arms, these heraldry-mongers will neglect to tell their customers that there might be anywhere from one to one hundred arms that have been granted to armigers who shared a surname, but not necessarily a bloodline. Further, when you ask these heraldry-mongers "What's my coat of arms?" or "What's my family crest?" they won't bother to tell you that under the Laws of Arms in countries following the English tradition armorial bearings DO NOT belong to all persons of a given surname and may rightfully be borne ONLY by the direct descendants of the individual to whom they were first granted or allowed. (See this helpful leaflet published by the Society of Genealogists in London and this enlightening article at the britianusa.com website.). Nor will these heraldry-mongers advise you that the right to historic arms may not be so clear-cut in countries where there is a tradition of clan -based heraldry. (See for example the article on this website by Michael Waas of the Westphalian Heraldry Society). If you're looking for information on or a rendering of a specific historic coat of arms, then please post your request on the AAH Message Board and we'll be glad to track it down for you free of charge. [BACK]
What is the Association for the Advancement of Heraldry (AAH)?
Visitors to this page since 26 September
2004 |
