Description

Arco Publishing Company, Inc., [Published date: 1973]. Hardcover, xi, 224 pp; 23 cm. . Illustrated with over 300 line drawings and four pages of full-color plates. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Red cloth covered boards with gold lettering on spine. Light bumping and scuffing to edges and corners of covers. Binding tight. Previous owner's name in ink and red circular personal stamp on front paste down. Otherwise pages are lightly aged but unmarked. Dust jacket has a few small nicks and tears and light creasing along edges. light overall scuffing, aging and soiling to jacket as well. NOT price clipped. Now in an archival quality (removable) Brodart cover. Not Ex-library. [From front jacket flap] Among the principal values of this most useful book is the fact that it has been compiled by a herald - and John Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald of Arms, is one of the foremost experts in this country. He has access to official records and is in constant touch with new developments: he draws on his own vast fund of experience and knowledge, and views the subject not only historically and academically, but also through the eyes of a working herald. The average student of heraldry would be surprised how soon a book on this topic becomes dated. An Heraldic Alphabet is a chronicle of current practices and ideas. Four general chapters on the history, development and understanding of heraldry form an introductory essay to the alphabetical definitions and descriptions. In addition to over 300 line drawings throughout the book, there are four pages of full colour illustrations. An Heraldic Alphabet is the essential glossary - comprehensive, clear, definitive and concise. Terms are simply explained and boldly illustrated, and all the wealth of information contained in the book is interesting, well-presented and relevant. This is a digestible, engrossing and popular introduction to heraldry, but - because of the extremely high standard of the detailed and up-to-date information it contains - it is also a most valuable reference book for all students of heraldry and for all those thousands of people intrigued by this fascinating subject. Contents include: Heralds and the birth of heraldry; The development of arms; The grammar of heraldry; The law of arms; The alphabet.