Dictionary of Heraldry

This is an extremely useful and comprehensive illustrated dictionary of heraldic terms a necessity whether one's interest is that of an artist engraver heraldist librarian or genealogist. The outstanding feature of this book is the set of 47 plates (done by Elvin) depicting over 2500 illustations of the various heraldic charges with blazonings arranged by subject headings such as Badges Bend Chevron Cross and the like thus providing a complete dictionary of terms each term having an exact reference to a matching illustration. As a result the identification of unrecognized charges is easy. The usefulness of the book for the study of heraldry is manifest; it can be used quite readily by almost anyone at any stage of study and research. In a science as complex and exacting as heraldry Elvin's Dictionary provides much needed clarification and as it were ventilation--no small contribution to any discipline.