FAQ
Where can I buy a coat of
arms?
IT is not possible in law to purchase a coat of arms, either for personal use or for a corporation.
A dealer may offer to sell you one, but while he may be entitled to charge you for the print or artwork, he cannot sell you a coat of arms. All you acquire ownership to is the print or painting, and if you do not own the arms illustrated, this could be of dubious value.
If a dealer claims to be able to provide you with arms that are legally yours, always check his bona fides. In most cases he is not able to do so. Occasionally a dealer might make application to a heraldic authority on your behalf (see next paragraph), but it is usually better to deal directly with such an authority.
The only lawful means of obtaining a coat of arms is through application to a lawfully constituted heraldic authority.
While you will be required to pay fees to acquire arms, this is not regarded as a sale transaction. The certificate received from the authority is not saleable.
In South Africa, the relevant authority is the Bureau of Heraldry in Pretoria.
Other authorities you might possibly want to apply to are the College of Arms in London, Lord Lyon King of Arms in Edinburgh, the Chief Herald of Ireland in Dublin, one of the Spanish Kings of Arms, or one of the heraldische Gemeinschaften that operate in Germany. (See this page for a detailed list.)
Most of these authorities will, under given conditions,[1] be willing to make a grant of arms. The Bureau in Pretoria uses the term registration, but it amounts to the same thing.
