College of Arms

3. The records and collections of the College of Arms

The official records of the College, which include the registers of grants of arms, funeral certificates, the records of the systematic heraldic visitations of the English and Welsh counties undertaken by the heralds roughly every generation between 1530 and 1688, changes of name and arms by Royal Licence, and the pedigree registers, total approximately 750 manuscript volumes.

Badges with corresponding arms and crests in a late 15th century manuscript

In addition to the official records there are the unofficial collections. These include an extensive library of printed genealogical and heraldic works. The College's unique manuscript collections are just as extensive. These date from the fourteenth century, and contain the working papers and other manuscripts of numerous past heralds.

The Records and Collections of the College of Arms, by Sir Anthony Richard Wagner, 1952, gives an excellent account of the history and extent of the College archives. The College of Arms Catalogue, volume 1 published 1988, is a full catalogue to a small part of the records and collections, including the 260 volume manuscript collection of Augustine Vincent (d.1626), Windsor Herald.

Next chapter: The current officers of arms

About the College of Arms: index