The Library of the Heraldry Society

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We are delighted to announce that Chetham's Library has acquired the Library of the Heraldry Society on long-term loan. The Heraldry Society was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in 1956 with the object, among others, of maintaining a library for spreading knowledge of heraldry, genealogy and related subjects. For many years the Society maintained a library in London for the use of its members, but a number of years ago the Society gave up its London premises. The Society and the Governors of Chetham's have now agreed that material formerly contained in the Society's Library should be deposited at Chetham's, for use by members of the general public. The Society's library complements Chetham's own considerable resources in heraldry and genealogy. The library comprises approximately 1500 items arranged under the following system of classification :

General Works
Ecclesiastical
England and Wales
Scotland and Ireland
Peerages and rolls, etc.
Genealogy and visitations, etc.
Miscellaneous
Flags, Seals and Badges
Foreign language works
Bibliography, Exhibitions
Royal works

A typescript author and subject catalogue of the collection is available for consultation in the Library and we welcome enquiries from members of the Heraldry Society and from the general public about the contents of the library. The collection contains large numbers of small items such as pamphlets, many of which are difficult to find elsewhere, in addition to runs of periodicals and offprints of journal articles. It is our aim to add new titles to the collection as they are published and we welcome donations of suitable material. Highlights of the library include a superb collection of bookplates, comprising some 25,000 examples mounted in albums, formed by a member of the Society, William Wade Porteous, and over 20,000 hand-painted coats of arms from the collection of R.E. Smith.

Nautical bookplates from the Porteous collection