| This series of picture cards is offered in the interest of education by Brooke Bond | PG Tips | Flags And Emblems


	01 UNITED KINGDOM The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 94,211 square miles in area - with a population of some 54,000,000. It has remained unconquered since the Battle of Hastings - 900 years ago. King Richard I - .'Lion Heart -' adopted the three gold lions on red as his arms about 1198, after returning from the Third Crusade - and in later centuries different quarterings were added or abandoned for dynastic reasons. The Royal Arms assumed their present form in 1837, with England quartering Scotland and Ireland. The Union Flag began in 1707 as the combined crosses of St. George and St. Andrew - and that of St. Patrick was added in 1801.
	02 CANADA The Dominion of Canada - which came into being on 1st July - 1867, is the oldest of the independent Commonwealth countries. It is 3,851,809 square miles in area with a population of some 19,500,000. The arms were granted by Royal Proclamation on 21st November - 1921, and consist of the British Royal quarterings of England - Scotland and Ireland - with the old Royal Arms of France in the fourth quarter (commemorating the countries from which Canada was mainly colonised) - together with three conjoined maple leaves in base to represent the Dominion. The symbolism of the supporters and crest is similar. The National Flag came into being on 15th February - 1965.
	03 AUStralIA The Commonwealth of Australia - inaugurated on 1st January - 1901, is 2,967,741 square miles in area with a population of some 11,550,000. The armorial bearings were granted by Royal Warrant on 19th September - 1912. We illustrate here only the shield - in order to show more clearly the very interesting quarterings - which represent the States of New South Wales - Victoria - Queensland - South Australia - Western Australia - and Tasmania. The crest is a seven-pointed star of gold - and the supporters are a Kangaroo and an Emu - both in their natural colours - usually represented with sprigs of wattle flowers and leaves.
	04 NEW ZEalAND The Commonwealth Kingdom of New Zealand has an area of 103,939 square miles and a population of some 2,700,000. Captain Cook first charted the islands in 1769. British settlement followed - and a large measure of self-government was granted in 1852, with Dominion status in 1907. The armorial bearings were granted by Royal Warrant on 26th August - 191 I - and contain allusions to the position of New Zealand in the South Seas and the principal products - occupations and peoples of the country. The crest was a demi-lion holding aloft the Union Flag - but in 1956 a Royal Crown was placed above the shield.
	05 INDIA The Commonwealth Republic of India - with an area of 1,261,597 square miles and a population of nearly 450,000,000, was granted independence on 15th August - 1947, and the constitution came into force in 1950. The lion emblem is based on the capital of the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath - erected to commemorate the place where Buddha first proclaimed his gospel of peace. The saffron yellow stripe in the flag symbolises courage and the spirit of renunciation - the white stripe purity and truth - and the green faith and fertility. In the centre of the flag is the 'Dharma Chakra' or Wheel of Law.
	06 PAKISTAN The Commonwealth Republic of Pakistan - with an area of 365,529 square miles and a population of some 110,000,000, was granted independence in 1947 and became a Republic within the Commonwealth in 1956. The armorial bearings were adopted on independence and the shield is comprised of charges alluding to the principal products of the country - jute - wheat - cotton and rice - while the crescent and star - by way of crest - is the symbol of Islam. The motto - which is in Urdu and Bengali - means Discipline - Unity - Fate.
	07 CEYLON Ceylon - which has an area of 25,332 square miles and a population of some 12,000,000, became a self-governing Dominion of the British Commonwealth in 1948. The arms were granted by Royal Warrant on 30th July - 1954, and comprise the well-known Sinhaladipa - or Lion of Ceylon - within a border of Lotus petals - which is symbolic of the nation. The crown above the arms is based on that of the last King of Ceylon. The colours of the flag represent the three principal races of the island.
	08 GHANA Formerly the British Colony of the Gold Coast - Ghana was granted independence on 6th March - 1957, becoming a Republic within the Commonwealth in 1960. It has an area of 92,100 square miles and a population of some 7,700,000. The armorial bearings were granted by Royal Warrant on 4th March - 1957. The crossed stick and sword represent the administration - and the castle alludes to the national Government - while the cocoa-tree and mine-shaft allude to the main produce and activities. The red in the flag represents independence - the gold the wealth of the country - and the green the forest and farms.
	09 MalAYSIA With an area of about 130,000 square miles - and a population of some 9,000,000, Malaya became an independent Kingdom within the Commonwealth in 1957. It was enlarged by the accession of Singapore - Sarawak and Sabah (formerly British North Borneo) in 1963, but Singapore seceded in 1965. The armorial bearings were adopted by the Malay Rulers and approved by The Queen on 18th March - 1952. The five golden kris in the chief of the shield represent the former Unfederated Malay States of Johore - Kedah - Perlis - Kelantan and Trengganu; while the quarterings represent the other states - before the departure of Singapore. The motto means Unity is Strength.
	10 CYPRUS For long a part of the Byzantine Empire - Cyprus was conquered in 1191 by Richard I of England. He sold it to the Knights Templars who shortly afterwards sold it to the King of Jerusalem - and thereafter it became the principal Crusader Kingdom in the Eastern Mediterranean - until conquered by the Turks in 1571. It came under British administration in 1878 and was annexed in 1914, as a Crown Colony - becoming a Republic within the Commonwealth in 1960. It has an area of 3,572 square miles and a population of some 600,000. Since independence - an emblem of a dove bearing an olive branch has been used.
	11 NIGERIA The Federal Republic of Nigeria has an area of 356,669 square miles and a population of some 60,000,000. It was granted independence on 1st October - 1960, and became a Republic within the Commonwealth in 1963. The armorial bearings were granted by Royal Warrant on 28th April - 1960. The shield represents the two major rivers - Niger and Benue - with their confluence in the middle of the country The eagle crest is symbolic of strength and determination - while the "coctus spectabilis" flowers are commonly found in Nigeria. Each of the Regions - Northern - Eastern - Mid- Western - and Western - also has its own armorial bearings.
	12 SIERRA LEONE Becoming a Commonwealth Kingdom on 27th April - 1961, Sierra Leone has an area of some 27,925 square miles and a population of about 2,350,000. The armorial bearings were granted by Royal Warrant on 1st December - 1960. The lion on the shield and the chief "dancetty of three points" are plays upon the name of the country; the wavy blue and white in base represents the sea - which has played such a large part in its history - while the torches denote education. The palm trees allude to the palm oil - which is one of the principal products of the country.
	13 TANZANIA The United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar) was granted independence on 9th December - 1961. and became a Republic within the Commonwealth a year later. Its total area is about 362,688 square miles with a population of around 10,300,000. The armorial bearings were granted by Royal Warrant on 6th December - 1961. !his was the first occasion on which an African warrior's shield was used to display the charges - which allude to the country and its sea and lakes - while the torch of freedom and knowledge is within linked rings representing the unity of the principal races.
	14 JAMAICA With an area of 4,411 square miles and a population of about 1,800,000, Jamaica has been British since 1670, and was granted independence on 6th August - 1962. It was a famous base for the buccaneers. The first Seal made under a Warrant dated 3rd February - 1661/2, shows the arms surmounted by a Royal Helm. A new Royal Warrant was issued on 8th .April - 1957, specifying the armorial bearings. The motto was altered in 1962 to its present form. The pineapples on the red cross of St. George allude to the principal fruit of the island - and the crest to its largest reptile. The supporters represent the aboriginal inhabitants - the peace-loving Arawak Indians.
	15 trINIDAD AND TOBAGO With a combined area of about 1,980 square miles and population of some 1,000,000, the Territory was granted independence as a Commonwealth Kingdom on 31st August - 1962. The very attractive arms were granted by Royal Warrant on 9th August - 1962. Humming birds abound in the islands - while the three ships represent part of the fleet of Christopher Columbus - who discovered the islands in 1496. The ship's wheel upon the Royal Helm alludes to their maritime interests - while the Scarlet Ibis represents Trinidad and the Cocrico Tobago.
	16 UGANDA With an area of 93,981 square miles and a population of some 8,000,000, Uganda was granted independence on 9th October - 1962, and became a Republic within the Commonwealth a year later. The arms were granted by Royal Warrant on 3rd September - 1962, upon an African warrior's shield - with two spears of estate crossed behind it. The drum symbolises the kingdoms and the traditional culture of Uganda - and the sun refers to the fact that It lies astride the Equator; the blue and white allude to the great lakes - sources of the Nile. The kob and the crested crane are indigenous.
	17 KENYA With an area of 224,960 square miles and a population of some 9,500,000, Kenya was granted independence on 12th December - 1963, and became a Republic within the Commonwealth a year later. The arm - granted by Royal Warrant on 15th October - 1963, are borne on an African warriors shield. The colours refer to the people - the struggle for independence and the agriculture of the country; the cockerel holding an axe is regarded - according to local tribal customs - as heralding a new and prosperous life. The motto - in Swahili - means Work Together.
	18 MalAWI Formerly the Nyasaland Protectorate - Malawi has an area of 45,747 square miles and a population of around 4,300,000. It was granted independence on 6th July - 1964, becoming a Republic within the Commonwealth on 6th July - 1966. The arms were granted by Royal Warrant on 30th June - 1964, and reflect the principal features of the country. The lion and the leopard are indigenous to Malawi - as is the fish-eagle in the crest. The compartment on which the supporters stand represents the Mlanje Mountain.
	19 MaltA G.C. The islands of Malta - Gozo and Comino - 122 square miles in area with a population of nearly 330,000, form the Commonwealth Kingdom of Malta. The white and red shield is of great antiquity - while the George Cross in the top corner was awarded in 1943 to commemorate the heroism of the people in withstanding ceaseless German air attacks. The crest represents the castle of the Knights of Malta - who withstood the famous Turkish siege of 1565, and their cross hangs below the shield. The dolphins supporting the shield - which rests on the Island of Malta - reflect its maritime interests.
	20 ZAMBIA Formerly Northern Rhodesia - the Commonwealth Republic of Zambia - which has an area of 290,586 square miles and a population of about 4,000,000, was granted independence on 24th October - 1964. The original arms - illustrated here - were granted by Royal Warrant on 16th August - 1939. Since these were printed - the Government of Zambia has altered the arms by removing the chief with the eagle and making the latter into a crest - with a hoe and pick below it - and adding as supporters an African workman and a woman in traditional dress. These have not yet been registered at the College of Arms.
	21 THE GAMBIA The west coast of Africa was explored by Hanno - the Carthaginian - about 520 B.C. - and the Portuguese were there in 144 7; in 1588 the first British Africa Company was granted a charter to trade in The Gambia. Some 4,003 square miles in area - with a population of about 325,000, The Gambia was granted independence within the Commonwealth on 18th February - 1965. The armorial bearings were granted by Royal Warrant on 18th November - 1964, and comprise a Locar axe and a Mandinka hoe crossed in saltire. The crest is an oil palm nut tree - which is indigenous to the country.
	22 SINGAPORE The town and colony of Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles - and soon became one of the most important trading cities of South-East Asia. The island is 224 square miles in area - with a population of about 2,000,000. It was granted independence on 16th September - 1963, when it joined the Federation of Malaysia - but seceded from it on 9th August - 1965, although remaining in the Commonwealth. The arms were granted by Royal Warrant on 26th November - 1959. The symbolism of the arms alludes to brotherhood and virtue - with aspirations of a young country towards its ideals. The motto means Onwards Singapore.
	23 GUYANA Formerly British Guiana - with an area of some 83,000 square miles - a population of about 650,000, and extensive mineral wealth - Guyana became an independent Kingdom within the Commonwealth on 26th May - 1966. The armorial bearings were granted by Royal Warrant on 21st January - 1966, and consist of a Victoria Regia lily-leaf and two flowers - one open and the other opening - and in base a Canje Pheasant. The crest is a Cacique's crown between two diamonds - while the supporters are emblematic of the country.
	24 BELGIUM The Kingdom of Belgium - with an area of 11,775 square miles and a population of some 9,500,000, has had a turbulent history. It was at Bruges that Philip the Good - Duke of Burgundy - founded the famous Order of the Golden Fleece in 1430. The Low Countries later passed by succession to the Hapsburg Emperors. Conquered by the French in 1794, they finally achieved independence in 1814. In 1830, the southern portion broke away to found modern Belgium - when the arms illustrated here were adopted. They are encircled by the chain of the Order of Leopold.
	25 THE NETHERLANDS The Kingdom of the Netherlands - with an area of about 13,500 square miles - and a population of some 12,300,000, has played an important part in the history of Europe. Under the leadership of the Princes of Orange it was in the forefront of the struggle for freedom in the sixteenth century against the Hapsburgs. The States-General of the Netherlands used a Lion on their seal in 1578. The gold lion on its blue shield strewn with billets - of the Princes of Orange - became the basis of the arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands formed in 1814. when it was given - its well-known sword and sheaf of arrows.
	26 DENMARK The Kingdom of Denmark - which has an area of 16,608 square miles and a population of some 4.600,000,is one of the ancient kingdoms of Europe - and was once joined to England under King Cnut. The arms are very old - and are found in the twelfth century - in a form not unlike that in use today - The small coat of arms - here illustrated - is used by Danish Government authorities and is the national emblem. The Royal Arms contain this coat in the first quarter - with other quarterings and in escutcheons relating to the duchies and provinces forming the kingdom.
	27 SWEDEN The Kingdom of Sweden - with an area of 173,436 square miles and a population of some 7,650,000, is of considerable antiquity. The shield with the three crowns first appears in 1364 on the seal of Albrecht of Mecklenburg - when he became King of Sweden. For reasons of space we show only the shield of the present Royal Arms - which have as supporters two crowned lions of gold - the whole upon a "pavilion" of red lined with ermine - and which are known as the Great Coat of Anns. The second and third quarters contain the arms of the ancient Folkung dynasty - and in the centre are the arms of the present Bernadotte dynasty .
	28 NORWAY The Kingdom of Norway - which has an area of 125,181 square miles and a population of some 3,700,000, is one of the oldest kingdoms in Europe. The lion was adopted about the end of the twelfth or early in the thirteenth century - and the present form of the shield came into use about 1285. The battle-axe was the principal weapon of the Vikings - who sailed from the rocky shores of Scandinavia to colonise eastern England and Normandy - and whose raids are so vividly described in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
	29 GREECE With an area of about 51,182 square miles and a population of some 8,700,000, the Kingdom of Greece (Hellas) achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 182 I. The State Arms - shown here - are supported by two .figures of Hercules. The Royal Arms - adopted in 1863, reflect the Danish origins of the present dynasty - but have not been shown here as they are too complicated for reduction to such a small size. They are - however - the same as the present Royal Arms of Denmark - and displayed in an escutcheon placed upon the Greek National Arms.
	30 MONACO The Principality of Monaco - on the shores of the Mediterranean - with an area of only some 360 acres and a resident population of about 22,500, is one of the smallest independent states in the world. The Grimaldi family has been associated with Monaco since the early Middle Ages - although the country changed hands on several occasions until 1297, when it was recaptured by a ruse - Francesco Grimaldi and his men-at-arms entering the castle disguised as monks. The supporters of the princely arms are in allusion to this. The descent has passed on occasion through heiresses - each family assuming the ancient name.
	31 SWITZERLAND The Confederation of Switzerland - with an area of 15,950 square miles and a population of some 6,100,000, is one of the oldest republics with a continuous history. Practical Independence of the Holy Roman Empire was achieved in 1499 and formal independence in 1648. As a result of the Geneva Convention of 1864, the distinctive arms of Switzerland suggested the Red Cross - by reversing the colours. Heraldry flourishes in the Republic and the arms of the cities of Switzerland provide many interesting examples those of Heme the capital - being shown in the album. -
	32 PORTUGal The Republic of Portugal has an area of 34,500 square miles and a population .of some 9,000,000. Originally a fief of the Kingdom of Leon - the early Counts achieved independence after a series of wars with their overlords and against the Moors - between 1095 and 1279. Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) initiated a series of brilliant discoveries along the West African coast and down to the Cape. The present State Arms continue the old Royal Arms - set upon an armillary sphere - an ancient nautical instrument - in memory of these Portuguese maritime discoveries.
	33 AUStrIA The Austrian Federal Republic - first formed in 1918 on the break-up of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire - and re-established as a Sovereign State in 1.955, after occupation by the victorious Powers - has an area of 32,376 square miles and a population of some 7,275,000. The Hapsburgs ruled Austria from the thirteenth century - and it later became the nucleus of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. The present State Arms - based on the ancient Hapsburg Royal Arms - were first adopted after the First World War the broken chains on the eagle's legs being added after the Second World War'.
	34 POLAND The Polish People's Republic - established in 1952, has an area of 121,000 square miles and a population of Some 32,000,000. The eagle has been the heraldic emblem of the Polish Kings since the early Middle Ages - and a very fine example of it appears on the Great Seal of Casimir the Great (1333-1370). The present State Arms - based on a sixteenth century design - were adopted in 1927 by the pre-war Republic and retained by the post-war Communist Government - thus continuing a traditional link with Poland's turbulent past - in which on more than one occasion it was a bastion of western civilization.
	35 IRELAND The Republic of Ireland - with an area of 26,600 square miles and a population of some 2,750,000, achieved complete independence from Great Britain in 1937. Since 1172 the Kings of England had been recognised as Lords of Ireland - and the Anglo-Norman settlement brought with it many feudal institutions. In consequence - heraldic practice in Ireland has followed closely that of England. Originally the three antique gold crowns on a blue shield (now the arms of the Province of Munster) were regarded as the arms of Ireland - until Henry VIII and Elizabeth I adopted the well-known gold harp on blue - which has been retained by the present Republican Government.
	36 GERMANY The Federal Republic of Germany - with an area of some 95,958 square miles and a population of about 61,000,000, was formed in 1949 from the fusion of the three occupied Western Zones. The rise of the Hohenzollerns to Electors of Brandenburg - then Kings of Prussia and in 1871 Emperors of Germany - is a matter of history. The very ancient - and consequently simple - arms of this family were borne on an in escutcheon upon the breast of an eagle and - instead of supporters - the whole was shown upon the breast of an imperial eagle with outspread wings. The black eagle of the Federal Republic recalls its past royal emblems.
	37 FRANCE The French Republic has an area of 212,895 square miles and a population of some 48,700,000. The fleur-de-Lys has been a royal emblem since the Dark Ages - but the golden fleur-de-Lys strewn on a blue shield were only much later adopted as the Royal Arms. In 1376 the lilies were reduced to three - and remained the Royal Arms until the Revolution of 1789. Napoleon I adopted a gold eagle with outspread wings standing upon a thunderbolt - on a blue shield. Although the emblem of the Republic is officially only the flag - the device illustrated here is frequently used officially by the Fifth Republic.
	38 U.S.S.R. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - with its fifteen constituent federal republics - has a total area of 8,650,000 square miles and a population of some 235,000,000. The facts of geography and the chances of history tended to orientate the Russians towards Byzantium - and it is not surprising - therefore - that Ivan the Great adopted as his arms the two-headed eagle of the empire - whose heirs the Grand Dukes of Muscovy had long felt themselves. The Revolution of 1917 swept away all vestiges of the Romanoffs - and the new government adopted the non-heraldic emblem here illustrated.
	39 ITalY The Italian Republic - with an area of some 131,000 square miles and a population of about 51,000,000, came into being in 1946, on the abdication of the King. The Royal Arms of the House of Savoy ceased - in consequence - to be used and the emblem shown here was adopted by decree on 5th May - 1948. This is a complete break with the past for a country with such a long and flourishing heraldic tradition. The Vatican City State - seat of the Pope - occupies a small enclave in Rome enjoying independent sovereignty - and the headquarters of the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta are also there.
	40 U.S.A. The United States of America - with an area - excluding overseas possessions - of 3,548,974 square miles and a population of some 200,000,000, achieved independence of Great Britain in 1783. The first President was George Washington - the descendant of an ancient English family whose arms - illustrated in the album - are believed to have suggested the design of the American arms and flag. The Congress of 20th June - 1782 adopted the design for the armorial bearings to be used on the first Great Seal of the republic - which have remained substantially unchanged from that day to the present. The thirteen stars above the eagle and the arrows in its claws record the founder States.
	41 SOUth AFRICA The Republic of South Africa has an area of 472,359 square miles and a population of some 18,500,000. The Union of South Africa was established in 1910, combining the earlier Boer republic and the old colonies of the Cape and Natal. The armorial bearings were granted by Royal Warrant on 17th September - 1910, and the four quarters of the arms include symbols alluding to the four provinces. The Cape is represented by the Virgin or Lady of Good Hope - and Natal by the two wildebeeste - while the orange tree alludes to the Orange Free State and the ox-waggon to the Transvaal.
	42 ARGENTINE The Argentine Republic - occupying a large portion of the southernmost part of the South American continent - has an area of 1,079,965 square miles and a population of about 22,500,000. First discovered in 1515 and gradually colonised by Spain during the succeeding century - the Argentine finally achieved independence from the mother country in 1816. The armorial emblem had been adopted in 1813 during the war of independence - and its symbolism was clearly inspired by that of the French Revolution - with the cap of liberty and clasped hands - symbolic of brotherhood and unity.
	43 BRAZIL The Republic of the United States of Brazil - with an area of 3,289,440 square miles and a population of some 84,000,000, was originally colonised by the Portuguese in the early sixteenth century. In 1822 it became an independent Empire - under Dom Pedro - son of the King of Portugal - but his successor was dethroned and a republic declared in 1889. The emblem adopted shortly afterwards is an interesting example of the non heraldic kind of devices frequently favoured by revolutionary governments. The stars in the centre represent the Southern Cross while the chaplet is composed of the leaves of coffee and tobacco plants.
	44 MEXICO The United States of Mexico - once the cradle of an ancient civilization which was overthrown by the Spaniards under Cortes shortly after 1519, has an area of 760,000 square miles and a population of some 40,000,000. Following a successful revolt from Spain in 1821, a republican government was established. In 1862 the French installed Maximilian as Emperor - but he was executed five years later - and the republic was restored. The revolution of 1910 changed the social structure. The present emblem - first adopted in 1823 and re-approved in 1934, is based on old Indian symbolism.
	45 ISRAEL The Republic of Israel - with an area of some 7,992 square miles and a population of about 2,600,000, occupies a little over two-thirds of the total area of Palestine. The British mandate was relinquished in 1948 when Israel became an independent state. The seven-branched candelabrum - known as the Menorah - was proclaimed the official emblem of Israel on 10th February - 1949. It is one of the oldest Jewish religious symbols - and blue is of almost equal antiquity with it as a national colour - while the Star of David in the middle of the flag has been associated with the Jews since the Middle Ages - if not before.
	46 EGYPT The United Arab Republic was established on 1st February - 1958, following a union between Egypt and Syria - the former country having become a Republic in 1953 after a coup d'etat the previous year. Syria seceded from the union in 1961, The total area of Egypt is about 386,110 square miles - with a population of some 26,000,000. The arms - which show some European influence in their design - were adopted by Presidential decree on 25th October - 1958. The principal emblem of the Republic is the "Salaheddin Eagle" and the name of the U .A.R. is written in Kufi script beneath it.
	47 IRAN The Empire of Iran (more generally known in England as Persia) - has an area of 628,000 square miles and a population of some 23,000,000. One of the most ancient kingdoms in the world - with a recorded history going back several centuries B.C. - Persia has played an important part in the affairs of Asia and eastern Europe. This very attractive emblem is surmounted by the Pahlavi Crown - one of the most striking of all royal crowns. The National Flag consists only of the three horizontal bands of colour - but in the Ensign and Military Flag the Royal Emblem is placed in the middle.
	48 EthIOPIA The Empire of Ethiopia - with an area of approximately 395,000 square miles and a population of some 22,000,000, is one of the most ancient Christian kingdoms in the world - The Emperor claims descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The Royal Emblem alludes to this with the Throne of Solomon depicted in the centre with a royal orb upon it - and two angels on either side as supporters. In front of the throne stands the Lion of Judah supporting a cross - a motif which is repeated on the National Flag. Below the emblem - in Amharic - is the legend "The conquering lion of the tribe of Judah."
	49 JAPAN The Empire of Japan - or Land of the Rising Sun - has an area of 142,505 square miles and a population of about 100,000,000. Japan's continuous history as a kingdom goes back some two thousand years - and its rulers claimed divine descent. The chrysanthemum of sixteen petals was the emblem of the Imperial House - but in recent years has come to be regarded as a national emblem as well. In Japan there is a well-developed system of family emblems - or "mon" which - like the heraldic emblems of Europe - were hereditary and used as a means of personal recognition in war and for identifying property in peace.
	50 UNITED NATIONS The United Nations Organisation was brought into being on 24th October - 1945, and its permanent headquarters are at New York. The principal organs of the U.N.O. are the General Assembly - the Security Council - the Trusteeship Council - the International Court of Justice - and the Secretariat. Its simple flag is emblematic of the world interests embraced by the organisation. Other international bodies of a more regional kind are the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe - the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - the Central Treaty Organisation - and the South East Asia Treaty Organisation - all of which have their own distinctive flags.
By R O Denys	Illustrated by G Mussett and N Manwaring

"We've had six jokes in a row and one of them was almost funny"
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