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Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques.

Vexillology is the scholarly study of flags. The term was coined in 1957 by the American scholar Whitney Smith, the author of many books and articles on the subject. It was originally considered a sub-discipline of heraldry, and is still occasionally seen as such. It is also sometimes considered a branch of semiotics. [1] It is formally defined in the FIAV (Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques) constitution as "the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge." A person who studies flags is a vexillologist, and by extension, a person who designs flags is a vexillographer. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_FIAV.svg Summary Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_FIAV.svg Summary Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. ... For other uses, see Flag (disambiguation). ... Dr. Smith designed the flag of Guyana which was adopted in 1966. ... Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ... Semiotics, semiotic studies, or semiology is the study of signs and symbols, both individually and grouped into sign systems. ... Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. ...

The word "vexillology" is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum and the suffix –ology meaning "study of". The vexillum was a particular type of flag used by Roman legions during the classical era. Unlike most modern flags which are suspended from a pole or mast along a vertical side, the square vexillum was suspended from a horizontal crossbar along its top side, which was attached to a spear. The vexillum was a flag-like object used in the Classical Era of the Roman Empire. ... Look up -ology in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Legion redirects here. ... Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, which begins roughly with the earliest-recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century AD... A pole is a long and stiff cylinder usually made of wood, aluminium, iron, carbon fiber, or other materials. ... mizzen mast, mainmast and foremast Grand Turk The mast of a sailing ship is a tall vertical pole which supports the sails. ... Spears were one of the most common personal weapons from the late Bronze Age until the advent of firearms. ...

Vexillologists are active in dozens of national associations within FIAV. Every second year, FIAV organizes the International Congress of Vexillology (ICV). The 2007 ICV was hosted in Berlin, Germany; the 2009 ICV will be hosted in Yokohama, Japan. Internet activity of vexillologists is centered on the Flags of the World website and mailing list. This article is about the capital of Germany. ... For the town of Yokohama in Aomori Prefecture, see Yokohama, Aomori. ... Flags of the World (or FOTW) is an Internet-based vexillological organization and resource. ...

Flag Identification Symbols (FIS)

The flag Identification System created by Whitney Smith in his vexillologic books and later on adopted by Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. Dr. Smith designed the flag of Guyana which was adopted in 1966. ... Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. ...

The first row represents land use, the second sea use, each divided into Civil (private), Nation (state/government) and Military use (war flag).

There are 64 representing symbolds that can describe the flag, here are some of them:

FIS	Text mode	Description	Usage
	C**/***	Civil Flag	used by private persons on land
	*S*/***	State Flag	used by state institutions on land
	**W/***	War Flag	used by military on land (army)
	***/C**	Civil Ensign	used on private vessels (merchant ensign)
	***/*S*	State Ensign	used on state owned vessels
	***/**W	War Ensign	used by navy
	CS*/***	Civil and State Flag	used by private persons and state on land
	*SW/***	State and War Flag	state services and military on land
	CSW/***	National Flag	used for all purposes on land
	***/CSW	National Ensign	used for all purposes on vessels
	CSW/CSW	National Flag and Ensign	used for all purposes on land and sea

Other symbols are used to describe how a flag looks, these are the symbols in general use: Image File history File links FIAV_100000. ... Image File history File links FIAV_010000. ... Image File history File links FIAV_001000. ... Image File history File links FIAV_000100. ... Image File history File links FIAV_000010. ... Image File history File links FIAV_000001. ... Image File history File links FIAV_110000. ... Image File history File links FIAV_011000. ... Image File history File links FIAV_111000. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links FIAV_111111. ...

• Normal or de jure version of flag, or obverse side
• Design was proposed in the past, but never officially adopted
• Design is a reconstruction, based on past observations
• Reverse side of flag
• Design is an acceptable variant
• Alternative version of flag
• De facto version of flag
• Flag has different designs on its obverse side and its reverse side
• Obverse side meant to be hoisted with pole to the observer's right
• Design officially authorized to represent nation by government of that nation
• Design used in the past, but now abandoned (this symbol is not part of Smith's original set)
• Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
• Reverse side is congruent to obverse side
• Information on reverse side is not available
• Flag can be hung vertically by hoisting on a normal pole, then turning the pole ninety degrees
• Flag can be hung vertically by rotating the design first
• Vertical hoist method of flag is unknown
• Design has no element which can be rotated
• Flag can only be hoisted vertically

Image File history File links IFIS_Normal. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Proposed. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Reconstruction. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Reverse. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Variant. ... Image File history File links IFIS for alternate version File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links IFIS_De_facto. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Two-sided. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Sinister. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Authorized. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Historical. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Mirror. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Equal. ... Image File history File links IFIS_No_reverse_info. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Vertical_normal. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Vertical_rotated. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Vertical_unknown. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Vertical_inapplicable. ... Image File history File links IFIS_Vertical_exclusive. ...

Principles of flag design

Flag designs exhibit a number of regularities, arising from a variety of practical concerns, historical circumstances, and cultural prescriptions that have shaped and continue to shape their evolution.

First among the practical issues confronting a vexillographer is the necessity for the design to be manufactured (and often mass produced) into or onto a piece of cloth, which will subsequently be hoisted aloft in the outdoors to represent an organization, individual, or idea. In this respect, flag design departs considerably from logo design: whereas logos are predominantly still images to be read off a page, screen, or billboard, flags are alternately draped and fluttering images to be seen from a variety of distances and angles. The prevalence of simple bold colors and shapes in flag design attests to these practical issues. Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardised products on production lines. ... For other uses, see Logo (disambiguation). ...

Flag design is also a historical process in which current designs often refer back to previous designs, effectively quoting, elaborating, or commenting upon them. Families of current flags may derive from a few common ancestors as in the cases of the Pan-African colours, the Pan-Arab colors, the Pan-Slavic colours, the Nordic Cross and the Ottoman flag. African coutries using Pan-African colours in their flags, shown in red. ... Red, black, and white, sometimes with green, are the Pan-Arab colors and have their origins in the flag of the Arab Revolt. ... Panslavic flag approved at the Pan-Slav convention in Prague in 1848 The Pan-Slavic colours, red, blue and white, are colours used on the flags of some Slavic peoples and states in which the majority of inhabitants possess a Slavic background. ... Nordic Cross Flag, Nordic Cross, Scandinavian Cross is a pattern of flags usually associated with the flags of the Scandinavian countries of which it originated. ... The late Ottoman flag with an eight-pointed star (known as the star of Rub El Hizb (Ûž), a symbol of Islam) and crescent was first used in 1793 by the Ottoman Navy. ...

Certain cultures prescribe the proper design of flags, through heraldic or other authoritative systems. In certain cases, prescription may be based on religious principles; see, for example, Islamic flags. As a discipline, vexillology is beginning to promote design principles based on a body of research on flag history and design. Prominent examples are Ted Kaye's five Good Flag, Bad Flag principles published and endorsed by the North American Vexillological Association: Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... NAVA flag The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) is a body devoted to the study of flags. ...

1. Keep It Simple: The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory.
2. Use Meaningful Symbolism: The flag’s images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
3. Use 2–3 Basic Colors: Limit the number of colors on the flag to three, which contrast well and come from the standard color set.
4. No Lettering or Seals: Never use writing of any kind or an organization’s seal.
5. Be Distinctive or Be Related: Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections.

1 Black flag Green flag Flag of Libya Flag of the Sultanate of Muscat Red flag White flag 2 See also Gallery of bicolor flags Flag of Alabama Flag of Alaska Flag of Albania Flag of Alphen aan den Rijn Anarcho-syndicalism flag Flag of Atlanta Flag of Austria Flag... This article is about the authentication means. ...

Vexillologists

• Graham Bartram, Chief Vexillologist of the Flag Institute, and Secretary-General for Congresses of FIAV
• William Crampton, founder of the Flag Institute
• Marc Leepson, author of Flag: An American Biography
• Michel Lupant, current president of the FIAV
• Ottfried Neubecker, most important German vexillologist, author of the German navy Flaggenbuch of 1939
• George H. Preble, author in 1872 of the influential, if lore-filled, History of the American Flag
• Rudolf Siegel, author of the influential book Die Flagge, published in 1912
• Whitney Smith, founder of the Flag Research Center, editor of the Flag Bulletin, and coiner of the word "Vexillology" in 1957
• Bruce Berry, founder member of the Southern African Vexillological Association (SAVA), editor of the SAVA Journal and SAVA Newsletter, and collector of Rhodesian and South African flags

Graham Bartram is a British vexillologist (flag researcher), a vexillographer (flag designer), and is currently Secretary-General for Congresses of FIAV (Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques). ... William Crampton Director of the Flag Institute and President of FIAV. Dr William Crampton, M.Ed, Ph. ... Marc Leepson Marc Leepson (born June 20, 1945 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American journalist, historian, and author. ... Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. ... George Henry Preble (25 February 1816 - 1 March 1885) was an American naval officer and writer, notable for his history of the flag of the United States and for taking the first photograph of the Fort Henry flag that inspired The Star-Spangled Banner. ... Dr. Smith designed the flag of Guyana which was adopted in 1966. ...

Vexillographers

• Emilio Aguinaldo, designer of the flag of the Philippines
• Luis and Sabino Arana, designers of the Ikurriña (the flag of Basque Country, Spain)
• Graham Bartram, designer of the flag of Tristan da Cunha and others
• Manuel Belgrano, designer of the flag of Argentina
• Ron Cobb, designer of the American Ecology Flag
• John Eisemann, designer of the flag of the U.S. state of Ohio
• Stephen Greeter (fictional), played by a chess piece in the fumetto Terror Island
• Robert G. Heft, a designer of the 50-star canton for the American flag
• Adolf Hitler, designer of the Flag of Nazi Germany, the Reichskriegsflagge and his personal standard.
• Francis Hopkinson, designer (according to some historians) of the American flag
• Sharif Hussein, designer of the flag of the Arab Revolt
• Lu Hao-tung, designer of the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag of the Republic of China
• King James I of England, designer of the first flag of Great Britain.
• John McConnell, designer of the Earth flag
• Fredrik Meltzer, designer of the flag of Norway
• Raimundo Teixeira Mendes, designer of the flag of Brazil
• William Porcher Miles, designer of the battle flag of the Confederate States of America
• Francisco de Miranda, designer of the flag of Venezuela
• Friedensreich Hundertwasser, designer of the Koru Flag among others
• Christopher Pratt, designer of the flag of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Betsy Ross, designer (according to legend) of the American flag
• Gerard Slevin, former Chief Herald of Ireland reputed to have helped design the flag of the European Union
• Whitney Smith, designer of the flag of Guyana and other flags
• George Stanley, designer of the flag of Canada
• Joaquín Suárez, designer of the flag of Uruguay
• Robert Watt, designer of the Flag of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Zeng Liansong, designer of the flag of the People's Republic of China
• Theodosia Okoh, designer of the flag of Ghana
• Frederick 'Fred' Brownell, designer of the flags of South Africa and Namibia
• Cederic Herbert, designer of the flag of the short-lived Zimbabwe Rhodesia

Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (March 22, 1869 – February 6, 1964) was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. ... Bandila redirects here. ... Sabino Arana Goiri, self-styled as Arana ta Goiritaŕ Sabin (January 26, 1865 – November 25, 1903), Spain, founder of the Basque Nationalist Party and a inventor of previously non-existent Basque nationalism. ... Ikurriña The Ikurriña flag is a Basque symbol and the official flag of the Basque Country, an Autonomous Community (Comunidad Autónomas) of contemporary Spain. ... Graham Bartram is a British vexillologist (flag researcher), a vexillographer (flag designer), and is currently Secretary-General for Congresses of FIAV (Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques). ... The Flag of Tristan da Cunha The Flag of Tristan da Cunha was adopted on October 20, in a proclamation made by the Governor of Saint Helena under a Royal Warrant granted by Queen Elizabeth II. Prior to this, as a dependancy of Saint Helena, Tristan du Cunha used the... Manuel Belgrano (June 3, 1770 – June 20, 1820) was an Argentine lawyer, politician, and military leader, born in Buenos Aires. ... “Flag of Argentina” redirects here. ... Ron Cobb is a cartoonist, artist, writer, film designer, and film director. ... The Ecology Flag (Theta version). ... The flag of Ohio John Eisemann created the Ohio flag in 1902, one of very few non-rectangular flags in the world. ... The flag of Ohio was adopted in 1902 and designed by John Eisemann. ... Fumetti (or photo novels) are a genre of American comics illustrated with photographs rather than drawings. ... Robert G. Heft is the designer of the 50-star flag, and the proposed 51-star flag for the United States of America. ... The design and description of flags typically uses specialised flag terminology with precise and technical meanings, and is hence a form of jargon. ... Union Jack. ... Hitler redirects here. ... Ratio 3:5 The swastika flag came into use initially as the banner of the NSDAP after its foundation. ... Kaiserliche Marine War Ensign (Reichskriegsflagge) 1871–1892 Kaiserliche Marine War Ensign (Reichskriegsflagge) 1903–1919 Die Reichskriegsflagge (Reich War Flag) was the official name of the war flag used by the Wehrmacht from 1871 to 1945 and Kriegsmarine from 1892 to 1945. ... Personal Standard for Adolf Hitler (in use from 1934 to 1945) Adolf Hitlers personal standard was designed after Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg died on 2 Aug 1934. ... Francis Hopkinson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Union Jack. ... Hussein bin Ali (1852-1931) (حسین بن علی; Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī) was the Sharif of Mecca, and Emir of Mecca from 1908 until 1917, when he proclaimed himself king of Hejaz, which received international recognition. ... Combatants Hashemite Arabs Great Britain Ottoman Empire Commanders Faisal T.E. Lawrence Ahmed Djemal Strength 5,000 (?) 25,000 (?) This article is about the Arab Revolt of 1916. ... Lu Hao-tung (陸皓東 pinyin: Lù Hàodōng) (1868-1895), born Lu Chung-gui (中桂 Zhōngguì), courtesy name Hsien-hsiang (獻香 Xiànxiāng), was the first revolutionary martyr of the Republic of China. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The Blue Sky with a White Sun flag is the Kuomintang (KMT) party flag and the ROC naval jack. ... For the Chinese civilization, see China. ... James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scots as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James I. He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567, when he was only one year old, succeeding his mother Mary... Union Jack redirects here. ... John McConnell, the founder and creator of Earth Day, has demonstrated a major passion for peace, religion, and science throughout his life. ... NASA Earth flag The Earth flag is not an official flag, since there is no official governing body over Earth. ... Fredrik Meltzer (1779 - 1855) designed the flag of Norway. ... Flag of Norway redirects here. ... Raimundo Teixeira Mendes (Caxias, 5 January 1855 – Rio De Janeiro, 1927) was a Brazilian philosopher and mathematician. ... Navy Jack The flag of Brazil has a green field on which a large yellow rhombus is centered. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Confederate States of America used several flags during its existence from 1861 to 1865. ... Francisco de Miranda Sebastián Francisco de Miranda Rodríguez (commonly known as Francisco de Miranda March 28, 1750 – July 14, 1816) was a South American revolutionary whose own plan for the independence of the Spanish American colonies failed, but who is regarded as a forerunner of Simón Bol... New 8-star Flag of Venezuela Flag ratio: 2:3 New 8-star Flag of Venezuela Flag ratio: 2:3, civil/merchant variant Old 7-star Flag of Venezuela. ... Hundertwasser (left) 1965 in Hannover Hundertwasser 1998 in New Zealand Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser (born Friedrich Stowasser, December 15, 1928 – February 19, 2000) was an Austrian painter, and sculptor. ... The Koru Flag has been proposed as a secondary flag for New Zealand. ... John Christopher Pratt (born 1935 in St. ... Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador The flag of Newfoundland and Labrador was introduced in 1980, and was designed by Newfoundland artist Christopher Pratt. ... For other persons named Betsy Boss, see Betsy Boss (disambiguation). ... Union Jack. ... Gerard Slevin (born November 1, 1919) was born in Cork, Ireland. ... The office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, (sometimes, though incorrectly, called the Office of Arms) is the Republic of Irelands authority on all heraldic matters relating to Ireland and is located at the National Library of Ireland. ... European flag The European flag consists of a circle of twelve golden stars on a blue background. ... Dr. Smith designed the flag of Guyana which was adopted in 1966. ... Flag ratio: 3:5 The flag of Guyana, known as The Golden Arrowhead, was adopted in 1966. ... The Flag of Canada Col. ... The National Flag of Canada, popularly known as the Maple Leaf and lUnifolié (French for the one-leafed), is a base red flag with a white square in its centre featuring a stylized, 11-pointed, red maple leaf. ... Joaquín Suárez de Rondelo (1781 - 1868) was a Uruguayan political figure. ... The national flag of Uruguay (Pabellón Nacional) has a field of nine equal horizontal stripes of alternating white and blue stripes with a white canton charged with the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy. ... Robert Watt is the current Chief Herald of Canada. ... Flag of the City of Vancouver The Flag of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada was adopted by City Council on May 17, 1983. ... Zeng Liansong (1917-1999, Traditional Chinese: 曾聯松, Simplified Chinese: 曾联松, Pinyin: Zēng Liánsōng) was the designer of the Flag of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The flag of the Peoples Republic of China, the Five-Starred Red Flag (五星红旗 in pinyin: wǔ xīng hóng qí), was designed by Zeng Liansong, an economist and artist from Ruian (瑞安 ruì ān), Zhejiang. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The flag of Ghana was adopted in 1957. ... Zimbabwe Rhodesia was the (largely unrecognised) name of Zimbabwe during 1979, adopted by Rhodesia soon after an Internal Settlement between the white minority Rhodesian Government led by Ian Smith and small, moderate African nationalist parties not involved in the war that had been raging in the country since 1977. ...

See also

• Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques
• Flag
• Flag Institute (U.K.)
• Flagmaster
• Flag terminology
• Flags of the World
• Heraldry
• Nordic Flag Society
• North American Vexillological Association
• Sociedad Española de Vexilología
• Tincture (heraldry)
• William Crampton Library

Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. ... For other uses, see Flag (disambiguation). ... Flag of the Flag Institute, adopted on creation of the Institute, 23 April 1971. ... Three front covers of Flagmaster. ... The design and description of flags typically uses specialised flag terminology with precise and technical meanings, and is hence a form of jargon. ... Flags of the World (or FOTW) is an Internet-based vexillological organization and resource. ... Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ... Flag of the Nordic Flag Society. ... NAVA flag The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) is a body devoted to the study of flags. ... For a list of words relating to with definitions, see the Heraldic tincture category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to blazon a coat of arms. ... Interior of the William Crampton Libary. ...

External links

• World Flag Database
• Flag Research Center (U.S.)
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Flaggenkunde (Germany)
• FlagBerlin 2007 - 22. ICV at Berlin
• ICV 2005 at Buenos Aires, Argentina