Open book (Period)

Closed book (Period)

A book is a set of pages of paper or parchment, bound along one edge, with leather or wooden covers.  A book may be “open”, with the cover laid flat, or “closed”, with cover shut.  As there’s no heraldic default, the open or closed state must be explicitly blazoned.  Open books have their spines palewise by default (as in the arms of Oxford University, c.1450 [DBA2 193]), while those of closed books are fesswise by default (as in the arms of Cambridge University, 1572 [Hope 73]).  By Society convention, a book “bound proper” is bound in brown leather.

Books are sometimes drawn with seals, or with metal clasps and hinges; these are considered artistic license, and are not normally blazoned in Society heraldry.  Books may also have writing on the pages; this too is normally ignored as artistic license, but in cases where there are few, large letters, they may be treated as tertiary charges.  See also billet, scroll, tablet (Mosaic).

The College of Boethius bears:  Or, five open books in saltire, on a chief azure three laurel wreaths Or.

Emma Randall bears:  Sable, three open books Or.

Angharad of the Coppery Shields bears:  Vert, three closed books palewise, spines to sinister Or.