One of the many brilliant services of the Internet Archive is Books to Borrow, a library of millions of books that anyone can read online for free, simply by signing up for a free account. This includes books about flags, symbolism, and other subjects that may be useful and informative for aspiring flag designers. Curated further below are images and web links for a selection of such books. They include some of the finest books that have ever been written about flags, although not one of them is about flag design. As far as the proprietress of this website is aware, no such actual ‘book’ has yet been authored, and as anyone who has become conversant with her views will attest, she considers all of the ‘non-books’ that have been authored on that subject to be rubbish, possibly the sole exception being the 2014 PDF, The Guiding Principles of Flag Design, a modest, non-judgemental offering that was shepherded by Graham Bartram.
An online library of millions of free-to-read books, covering virtually any subject that one can imagine. For any would-be flag designer this is an incredible resource that will be readily available after simply signing up for a free account.
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Flags Through the Ages and Across the World
Arguably the greatest book that has ever been written about flags. Authored by Dr. Whitney Smith, the late American flag scholar who coined the term ‘vexillology’ and who founded NAVA, the North American Vexillological Association.
Flags and Arms across the World
Another scholarly work by Smith, its main focus being national and sub-regional flags and armorial bearings. Detailed images and discussions of the history and symbolism of the flags of nations, conveniently indexed in alphabetical order.
Another well-illustrated work by Smith, similar to his Flags and Arms across the World, but one that has been purposefully designed for schoolchildren. Accordingly, its descriptions of flags are written on a juvenile level, making them brief and easy-to-digest.
The World Encyclopaedia of Flags
A deeply informative work by Alfred Znamierowski, the late Polish-American flag scholar. Brilliantly illustrated throughout, with a depth of general flag knowledge nearly matching that of Whitney Smith, with whom Znamierowski often worked.
A book of the same calibre as Znamierowski’s encyclopaedia, featuring illustrations and scholarly input from the Scottish vexillologist Graham Bartram, along with other U.K. Flag Institute contributions from the late Dr. William Crampton and from the late Michael Faul.
Here Graham Bartram provides a wealth of information about the beauty and symbolism of British flags and emblems. A definitive work, and lavishly illustrated throughout.
A seminal work by the flag scholars Donald T. Healy and the late Peter J. Orenski, illustrating how magnificently symbolic and beautiful flags can be when they are designed by-and-for a people themselves, relying only on the guidance of their own minds and spirits.
Authored by the British geopolitical author Tim Marshall, this excellent book provides unique insights into the flags of the U.S.A., the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as perspectives on international flags and the flags of terrorism. A ‘must read’ for all flag enthusiasts.
Symbolism: A Comprehensive Dictionary
The general symbolism of over 15,000 terms, from ancient to modern, as well as specialized meanings in mythology, religion, art, literature, folklore, flower language, astrology, heraldry, numerology, and cultures the world over, by Steven Olderr (also see immediately below).
This book is no longer free-to-read at Books to Borrow, but its unique approach to symbolism, namely being arranged by alphabetised symbolic purposes rather than by symbols alone, makes it so useful that is has nevertheless been included here, with links to representative purchase information.
The gold standard of symbols dictionaries, with 1600 articles in its 1184 pages. Draws from anthropology, ethnology, psychology, and history to explain the symbolism of colours, numbers, sounds, gestures, expressions, qualities, and character traits.
There are probably some who will dismiss this as a coffee-table book, but the visual art of flag design is one that requires graphic symbolism, and this thick, beautifully-illustrated volume is one in which words are generally secondary to graphic illustrations.
The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems (Vol. One)
A great resource. In 640 pages, this volume covers the symbols and emblems of Asia, Oceania, Central America, and South America.
The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems (Vol. Two)
In 472 pages, this volume covers the symbols and emblems of the Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, North America, and the Caribbean)
An incredible resource for various types of symbolic ornament: Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arabian, Turkish, Moorish, Persian, Indian, Hindu, Chinese, Italian, Elizabethan, Celtic, mediaeval, renaissance, tribal, natural, and more.
