The College of Arms is something that many want not to exist. In Britain it receives no government funds. Before you say why should it, think of some on the long list that do receive government funds. In Australia the government recognized that many Australians sought British Heraldic recognition of their families, but said the College of Arms had no more authority than a graphic art studio to grant one. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of an adult beverage and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
Though I liked that Britain still thought to do a stamp issue on heraldry in 1984, I don’t agree with how they did it. They seem to be trying to imply the College’s work is a function of the government, such as including the Arms of the City of London. If the government is doing something, it implies inherently that it could decide to stop. The College’s future might be more secure the more the government thought it not their concern. For this issue, why not instead show some of the wild things that get into Coats of Arms, it might inspire young and old to research the process.
Todays stamp is issue A326, a 16 Pence stamp issued by Great Britain on January 17th, 1984. It was a four stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents used.
In the 15th century, even before he was King, Richard III kept roles of arms and had ideas of a more formal organization. In 1484, he issued a Royal Warrant creating the College of Arms to grant and protect coats of arms. At first the King supported the operations directly with his funds. The Charter read in part, in perpetuity, for the time being, the college will keep a list of Arms. He was right to perceive that forever should be tempered for the time being.
King Richard III was killed at the end of the War of the Roses and the Tutor line of Kings began with Henry VII. The College of Arms naturally wondered where this left them. Parliament declared the grants of Richard III to be null and void. The headquarters of the College of Arms was taken away and given to Henry VII’s mother. Henry turned out to be a great fan of pomp and circumstance and the Heralds were given much to do in the new King’s Court. After a few years the College had the courage to petition Henry VII for the return of the headquarters. The request was denied.
The headquarters became an issue again in the 20th Century. The building was heavily damaged in the Blitz, and there was no recourse to government funds to fix it. The land itself had become very valuable and there was a tempting push to sell the land, divide up the money and be done with it. Instead tradition was followed and a public subscription funded repairs. Recently Queen Elizabeth required an office in the department of Justice to maintain accurate records of arms and to keep the list up to date in case the College fails.
Sometimes the College of Arms is asked to settle a dispute. In 1954 the Manchester City Council took issue with the emblem of a theatre in town that resembled theirs and thus implied the city was involved with the theatre. After several court hearings to decide if it still existed and had jurisdiction the College of Arms convened a High Court of Chivalry for the first time in 200 years to decide the matter. It ruled in favor of the City Council of Manchester.
Well my drink is empty. Below is the Coat of Arms of my family. We found it for sale in plaque form at an English gift shop in the 1970s. I hope the High Court of Chivalry doesn’t convene to take it away from me, though I recognize their jurisdiction. Come again tomorrow when there will be another story to be learned from stamp collecting.
Virtue lies beneath oppression