Can anyone who has had their arms registered with this heraldic authority speak to the process that they went thru and possibly the costs associated? Any website link that I’ve come across for them is a dead link and before I’d make an official enquiry by letter with them I’d like to have a little background information. Once you register with them, what all is included?
The link given in our page on foreign armorial registrations works fine. See http://www.heraldrysociety.us/ForeignRegistration/index.php?page=register4&#saf. The Bureau’s page has a contact link, which gives you an automatic email connection.
The CoA of The S.A. Bureau of Heraldry:
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4098/skanna0003eg6.jpg
The field shows the Lion from the Crest of the former S.A. national CoA ( a rather more heraldic than the new pictogram), three shields symbolising heraldry. The crest is a Protea the national flower of RSA.
I am curious if the Bureau of Heraldry still seals the registration certificates with these arms or if they have devised a more multi-cultural seal for this purpose? By the way what are the exact official names for the Bureau of Heraldry, the State Herald and Assistant State Herald, some or all of which have been changed by Mr. Brownell’s successor?
I know for one Mr. Hassan Kelisli had his arms registered there (see an emblazonement by them in his member’s arms page). I would defenitely suggest PM’ing him.
Regards,
David Pritchard wrote:
I am curious if the Bureau of Heraldry still seals the registration certificates with these arms or if they have devised a more multi-cultural seal for this purpose?
If my memory serves me correctly (and at my age, it’s always possible that it _doesn’t_), the Bureau has always used the national arms on its certificates, and not the arms of the Bureau.
David
David Pritchard wrote:
I am curious if the Bureau of Heraldry still seals the registration certificates with these arms or if they have devised a more multi-cultural seal for this purpose? By the way what are the exact official names for the Bureau of Heraldry, the State Herald and Assistant State Herald, some or all of which have been changed by Mr. Brownell’s successor?
A photo of a certificate issued in November 2005 - the most recent that I’ve seen - shows the Bureau arms on the seal at the bottom, between the two signatures.
The national arms (2000 version) are at the top of the certificate. Early certificates, issued in the 1960s, had the national arms, the Bureau arms, and the State Archives arms at the top, perhaps in imitation of the College of Arms’ Letters Patent, which have the royal, Earl Marshal’s, and College arms at the top.
As for the State Herald’s title, there seems to be some confusion. The Heraldry Act established the office under the title "State Herald", and as this section of the Act hasn’t been amended, this must still legally be the official title, and it’s also the title used in the Government Notices (the most recent being three weeks ago).
However, for the past 3-4 years, the registration certificates have evidently carried the title "National Herald". And I’ve seen Mr Mabaso referred to as the "Director of the Bureau of Heraldry", which would seem to be a description rather than a title (he ranks as a director, which is a civil service grade equivalent to brigadier-general).
I believe registration costs went up quite steeply a while ago, but I don’t have a copy of the current tariff. Still, exchange rates are in your favour right now.
Andrew J Vidal wrote:
Can anyone who has had their arms registered with this heraldic authority speak to the process that they went thru and possibly the costs associated? Any website link that I’ve come across for them is a dead link and before I’d make an official enquiry by letter with them I’d like to have a little background information. Once you register with them, what all is included?
The Price I paid in 2002 was about $200 US. Recently they raised the price and I think it’s around $800 US. Overall the experience was great, mine took about a year to get. I would think with the price increase the requests for registration may have dropped, but that’s speculation on my part. Email them and ask the questions, they are very helpful people.
Brian wrote:
The Price I paid in 2002 was about $200 US.
Brian, you ought to include a copy of your South African emblazon on your Member’s Arms page.
—Guy
Guy Power wrote:
Brian, you ought to include a copy of your South African emblazon on your Member’s Arms page.
—Guy
Here is a scan of the arms from my SA certificate.
Below is a link to a full scan of my badge registration certificate from the Bureau of Heraldry issued in 2001, still using the old national arms and the title of State Herald.
http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rsabadgeregistrationnq4.gif
Could someone please post a full scan of a more recently issued certificate showing the new national arms and the title variations?
Brian wrote:
Here is a scan of the arms from my SA certificate.
Masterfully executed! Who was the artist?
—Guy
Guy Power wrote:
Masterfully executed! Who was the artist?
I too would like to know the artist. It has been a standard practice of the Bureau of Heraldry to face the helm affronty or totally to the dexter in their renderings. This is the first South African registration that I have seen with the helm partially to the dexter. Could it be that a new heraldic artist has joined their staff?
Arthur Radburn wrote:
As for the State Herald’s title, there seems to be some confusion. The Heraldry Act established the office under the title "State Herald", and as this section of the Act hasn’t been amended, this must still legally be the official title, and it’s also the title used in the Government Notices (the most recent being three weeks ago).
However, for the past 3-4 years, the registration certificates have evidently carried the title "National Herald". And I’ve seen Mr Mabaso referred to as the "Director of the Bureau of Heraldry", which would seem to be a description rather than a title (he ranks as a director, which is a civil service grade equivalent to brigadier-general).
According to their business cards, at least as of last August, Mr. Mabaso is "Director, Bureau of Heraldry", and Mr. van Rossum is "Deputy Director, Bureau of Heraldry".
David
Guy Power wrote:
Masterfully executed! Who was the artist?
—Guy
I think I can read BERGSTROM on the certificate.
David Pritchard wrote:
Below is a link to a full scan of my badge registration certificate from the Bureau of Heraldry issued in 2001, still using the old national arms and the title of State Herald.
http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rsabadgeregistrationnq4.gif
Could someone please post a full scan of a more recently issued certificate showing the new national arms and the title variations?
The treatment of the roots (both artistically and in terms of the blazon) is truly elegant and beautiful.
