While it is not entirely unknown it is somewhat rare to find artistic depictions (i.e. “emblazonments”) of the personal coat of arms of a herald in some way marshaled with the heraldic devices or coat of arms associated with the heraldic office he holds.

It’s very common to see the arms of one of the English Kings of Arms, for example, or that of the Lord Lyon King of Arms. In addition, most heralds and pursuivants (Kings-of-Arms, Heralds and Pursuivants are collectively referred to as “heralds”, using the name of the so called middle rank) employ a heraldic badge to indicate their office. But, it is the somewhat rare occasion when such coats of arms or badges are displayed along with the individual heralds’ personal armorial bearings.

I happened to come across a very handsome one the other day causing me to begin searching the internet to find images of the personal arms of Garter Principal King of Arms, the officer of arms who is the most senior of the heralds in the English College of Arms, ranking immediately below the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk marshaled to those of the arms of office for Garter. I have, so far, only been able to find a few. I’ll begin with the newly appointed current Garter King of Arms and work backwards. NOTE: all of the personal coat of arms of the men who served as Garter King of Arms are known. However, here I am referring to depictions where their personal arms are impaled with those of the office of Garter.

David Vines White, 2021 –

Thomas Woodcock, 2010 – 2021

Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones, 1995 – 2010

Sir Conrad Swan, 1992-1995

Sir Colin Cole, 1978 – 1992

Sir Anthony Wagner, 1961 – 1978

The Hon. Sir George Bellew, 1950 – 1961

Sir Algar Howard, 1944 – 1950

(N.B.: according to the blazon of the arms there should be a crescent sable on the bend for difference.)

[Sir Gerald Wollaston, 1930 – 1944]

Sir Henry Farnham Burke, 1919 – 1930

Sir Alfred Scott-Gatty, 1904 – 1918

Sir Albert Woods, 1869 – 1904

Sir Charles Young, 1842 – 1869

Sir William Woods, 1838 – 1842

[Sir Ralph Bigland, 1831 – 1838]

Sir George Nayler, 1822 – 1831

[Sir Isaac Heard, 1784 – 1822]

[Ralph Bigland, 1780 – 1784]

[Thomas Browne, 1744 – 1780]

[Sir Charles Townley, 1773 – 1774]

Stephen Martin Leake, 1754 – 1773

[John Anstis the younger, 1727 – 1754]

[John Anstis the elder, 1714 – 1744]

Sir Henry St. George the younger, 1703 – 1715

Sir Thomas St. George, 1686 – 1703

[Sir William Dugdale, 1677 – 1686]

[Sir Edward Bysshe, 1646 – 1660]

[Sir Edward Walker, 1645 – 1677]

Sir Henry St. George the elder, April – November, 1644

Thus far back was I able to discover depictions of the personal arms of the various Garter Kings of Arms impaled with the arms of office. Of course the office is much older than 1644. The first garter King of Arms, William Bruges, was appointed in 1417! I have only listed the bracketed names and dates of the Kings of Arms for whom I could not find examples of their impaled arms to fill in gaps between those that I did find. But, I’ll keep looking!

UPDATE: I added the newly-appointed present Garter principal King of Arms.