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The books written about or connected to the study of heraldry are many and various. The following books, however, have been found to be particularly useful:

  • Allcock, Hubert. Heraldic Design: Its Origins, Ancient Forms and Modern Usage. (New York: Tudor Publishing Company, 1962).

  • Boutell, Rev. Charles. The Manual of Heraldry. Revised by J. P. Brooke-Little. (London: Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1970).

  • Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles. A Complete Guide to Heraldry. (New York: Gramercy Books, 1993; reprint of an earlier edition, New York: Dodge Pub. Co., 1909).

  • Gough, Henry, and James Parker. A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry. (Oxford and London: James Parker & Company, 1894; republished by Gale Research Company, 1966).

  • Grant, Francis J., ed. The Manual of Heraldry: A concise description of the several terms used, and containing a dictionary of every designation in the science. (Edinburgh: John Grant, 1929).

In addition, when researching or deciphering a particular coat-of-arms or complete achievement, the following books may be of use:

  • Burke, Sir Bernard. A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire. (London: Harrison, 1866).

  • Burke, Sir Bernard. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry including American Families with British Ancestry. (London: Burke's Peerage Limited, 1939).

  • Burke, Sir Bernard. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Ireland. Edited by L. G. Pine. (London: Burke's Peerage Ltd., 1958).

  • Burke, Sir Bernard and Ashworth P. Burke. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, The Privy Council, Knightage, and Companionage. (London: Harrison & Sons, 1914).

  • Fairbairn's Book of Crests of the families of Great Britain and Ireland. (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1993).

  • Papworth, John W. A alphabetic Dictionary of Coats of Arms Belonging to Families in Great Britain and Ireland. (London: T. Richards, 1874).

  • Pine, L. G., ed. A Dictionary of Mottos. (London and Boston: Routledge & K. Paul, 1983).

  • Rietstap, Johannes-Baptist. General Illustrated Armorial. 3rd Edition by Victor and H. Rolland. (Lyon: Sauvegarde Historique, 1938).

  • Robbins, Dame Ceila, ed. Mottoes: a compilation of more than 9,000 mottoes from around the world and throughout history. (Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1986).