Assumed Arms

**David Thorpe** · 12th March 13, 07:26 AM

Thank you all for your comments. It has been a very interesting process.
I am pursuing registration with organizations here in the US with very limited success so far.
The final version of the blazon is:

Arms: Argent. an oak tree eradicated and fruited, roots in a Celtic knot entwined, all proper, on a chief engrailed Azure seven novae Argent.

Crest: On a wreath of the liveries, a bear’s head couped between two branches of Eastern Red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana), all proper.

Motto: “In Vi Gnaritatis Libertas” (In the strength of knowledge, freedom)

My thanks again to Kenneth (SlackerDrummer) for the idea of the Celtic-knotted roots.

**Joseph McMillan** · 12th March 13, 08:14 AM

I believe you are mistaken as to official international recognition of the South African Bureau of Heraldry's grants. At one time the College of Arms would register South African registrations in their Foreign Arms records, but that reportedly was ended quite some time ago on the grounds that South African arms did not imply gentility in the registrant.

Recognition by heralds of each other's grants is more comedy than comity, contrary to widespread assumptions. For example, the College of Arms will no longer recognize grants by the Chief Herald of Ireland, the South African Bureau of Heraldry, or Spanish cronistas. It also refuses to recognize Lord Lyon's grants to people domiciled in the Commonwealth outside Scotland, on the theory that the English kings of arms possess an exclusive "imperial jurisdiction." Lord Lyon won't recognize Canadian grants because Canadian rules allowing arms to pass through female lines means the surname and arms can get separated.

I commend Sir Crispin Agnew's essay "Conflict of Heraldic Laws" to anyone who is disturbed by all this.

--Break/Break--

I'm surprised you didn't hear back from the American College of Heraldry--are you sure you aren't mixing them up with the U.S. Heraldic Register, also mentioned earlier in this thread? The USHR has gone silent without explanation for a couple of years now.

The ACH also does design work. (Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with or a member of the ACH.)

**saharris** · 12th March 13, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Joseph McMillan

Sir Crispin Agnew's essay "Conflict of Heraldic Laws"

Do you know where to find a copy?

**SlackerDrummer** · 12th March 13, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by saharris

Do you know where to find a copy?

Someplace with better access to British journals than I have.

**WVHighlander** · 12th March 13, 04:43 PM

Kenneth has a great eye for such things... The Celtic knotted roots look great and really add to the arms.

**creagdhubh** · 13th March 13, 04:54 AM

Originally Posted by WVHighlander

Kenneth has a great eye for such things... The Celtic knotted roots look great and really add to the arms.

I agree.

**Mike_Oettle** · 14th March 13, 06:41 AM

As has been pointed out, arms registered in Pretoria are not recognised by other heraldic authorities.
However, once they are on the public register, they have official status within South Africa and one can find them in the online version of the register.
Private registries may be an excellent way of ensuring ownership to a coat of arms, or on the other hand they may be a complete waste of time, depending on how the registry operates.
And as I have mentioned before, the heralds in Pretoria provide free design advice (they are not unique in this, of course).
Regards,
Mike

**David Thorpe** · 14th March 13, 08:34 AM

I am not a world traveler, diplomat, peer nor a British subject likely to be knighted so international reciprocity is not an issue at all. They are American arms, insignificant as that might be on a global scale. One of my major motivations was to create a legacy for my sons and grandson.
I do not now, nor do I ever see myself displaying my personal arms with Scottish attire. Whilst kilted, I am proud and quite content to wear the retainer's badge of my Chief's arms.