Reference Book of the Week

The World Encyclopedia of Flags
by Alfred Znamierowski
Lorenz Books, 2013
Reference Section, Call Number CR 101 Z53 2013

Are you interested in vexillology? Yes? You are in good company. Dr. Sheldon Cooper of Big Bang Theory was fascinated with flags, as well, so much so, that he had a long running blog, Fun with Flags. However, if you are in the library, you can also check out one of our reference books, The World Encyclopedia of Flags by Alfred Znamierowski, Reference Section CR 101 Z53 2013.

The book has two main parts; flags through the ages and the world of flags. The first part gives a brief background of the history of flags, the type of flags, and flag families. There were decorated staffs, field signs, etc before flags, but the first flags possibly appeared in China after silk were invented, then moved through India, Persia then to Rome and to the rest of Europe and the world. The early flags represented rulers, later cities had their own flags then at the 18th century nations started to create their flags. Additionally, the military, navy, the government, and organizations, parties, etc. have their own flags in the modern age. The book gives a thorough examination of the physical characteristics of the different flags. The flag families section gives interesting information about similarities among the world nations' flags, and the connections by history or geography, or interestingly sometimes there are no connections at all.

This is a brief sample of some of the similar flags with no connections, from a blog entry: https://www.newsonaut.com/countries-with-almost-nothing-in-common-but-their-flags.

In the second part of the book, the nations' flags are organized geographically, and a map is provided at the beginning of each sections. The short write ups of the flags are about the colors' meanings, and dates of the adoption of the flags, which gives a short history of the country, as well.

 The book contains a detailed bibliography of vexillological books in several languages, and a list of vexillological journal titles.

You can check your knowledge of flags by doing this fun quiz. If you don't know the answer right away, feel free to look it up in the book!

http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz3838392bf0990.html

Review by Erika Prange, SWC Librarian