1. What services are provided worldwide by the Russian College of Heraldry?

      The International Department of this College is directed to fulfil the following:
  1) The registration and publication of LEGITIMATE Grants of Arms that have been bestowed by any national Heraldry Office worldwide.
  2) The registration and publication of previously UNREGISTERED Arms which have been borne by families over an extended period of time.
  3) The creation, registration and publication of a NEW COAT OF ARMS to worthy individuals and corporations who are desirous of obtaining a legitimate, meaningful and aesthetically pleasing coat of arms executed in the finest traditional heraldic style.

    2. Who may apply for Armorial Bearings (Coat of Arms)?

    The heraldic services of the CHR are available worldwide to all persons of honour.
    Although we are the Russian College of Heraldry, the title is geographic rather than demographic. Whilest the College has headquarters in the Russian Federation, its armigership is international, and so includes the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Uruguay, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, etc.

    3. What will happen when I apply for Armorial Bearings to the Russian College of Heraldry?

    You will request the assistance of the CHR to create a personally meaningful design in the artistic traditions of heraldry. This will receive the personal attention of the Principal Herald Master, who will require a sketch, a picture or a description of your proposed armorial bearings, or at least some basic ideas regarding the future coat of arms.

    A brief resumé and a passport photograph will be requested for the armiger`s records (the latter is desirable but not compulsory). Then a line drawing of your coat of arms will be executed and sent for your approval, after which the Library Painting, your Diploma Armorum and all the other items will be produced and dispatched by the registered air mail parcel to your address.

    4. How much will it cost, and how do I pay for the services of the Russian College of Heraldry?

    When your commission is accepted, payment should then be made, and work on your Coat of Arms will commence. The cost of the services depends on the complexity of the composition of the Armorial Bearings involved, i.e. whether the Arms are augmented with the inclusion of supporters, or not, etc. The method of payment will be advised by the CHR Staff.

    5. How long does the whole process take?

     Normally from 3 to 4 months, beginning from the moment of payment and your final approval of the line drawing.
    Sometimes, however, a large number of commissions in progress may increase the term to nearer 6 months, yet this is a comparatively short time to complete a heraldic commission which includes so time-consuming task as rendering of a hand-painted and eventually computer-finalized Coat of Arms, along with producing of a number of other pertinent Armorial Documents.

    6. What will I receive from the Russian College of Heraldry when my commission is complete?

     You will receive by registered air mail your Russian type Diploma Armorum in the form of a special Armorial Booklet (Folder) consisting of the following 9 items (six of them are shown to the right on this page), each document being executed on excellent glossy paper A4 sized, namely:

    1) The Library Painting of your Armorial Bearings
    2) The pictorial part of your Diploma Armorum
    3) The textual part of your Diploma Armorum in English
    4) The textual part of your Diploma Armorum in Old Russian
    5) A big colour image of your Coat of Arms on a white background
    6) Two reduced copies of your Coat of Arms on a white background
    7) A colour Bookplate (Ex Libris) Master for use on your books
    8) A sepia Bookplate (Ex Libris) Master for use on your books
    9) A colour Letterhead Master for use on your personalized stationery

    7. What is the best way to display my Coat of Arms?

     The Coat of Arms symbolises your family dignity and will remain an heirloom for generations to come. The nowadays accepted presentation of this College`s Diploma Armorum in the form of an A4 sized special Armorial Booklet (Folder) is being very expedient to be displayed in two ways.
    You may keep it as it is, like a book (Russian tradition), or you may easily extract the excellent glossy sheets from the folder, and then have them framed together on the wall (Western tradition), at your choice.

    8. Can the Russian College of Heraldry confer upon or help me to acquire a noble title?

    Russia, at present being a republic (not a monarchy), does NOT officially recognise nobility titles.
    Hence, in accordance with it's statutes, the Russian College of Heraldry is neither authorised nor competent to confer nobility titles, and therefore it deals exclusively with pure heraldry.
    For more information see this  Disclaimer

    9. Can the CHR help me in the research of my Russian or Polish ancestors?

    No, we cannot. The Russian College of Heraldry does not perform any genealogical researches, either on the territory of the former Russian Empire, or the former Soviet Union, or abroad.

Full colour rendition

Bookplate - Ex Libris
– click to enlarge