Joshua Palmatier

To me, this is a subject that I could get lost in, and never get anything else done. A little knowledge in this area might be worthwhile for writers of the fantasy or science fiction persuasion. Why? I think that eventually one would want to present certain symbologies for the people/creatures and worlds he/she has created. It may extend far beyond the traditional use of shields or coats of arms. In my case, I've created an additional world, quite a bit like the world we know, but there are differences as well as parallels. Therefore, I need to have some idea of the flags of the various nations, and perhaps in the long run, even ideas of what various uniforms, etc, look like. Even if the detailed description of these items never make it into the story(s), I feel that I should know about them. Similarly as I write those portions of the story that take place in this world, I need to know and understand the various uniforms of the time. If, for any other reason, so that those who are always looking for mistakes don't find any in my writing. As an example, I need to know that at the time my story takes place, that a British Navy Master and Commander wore a single plain eppaulette on his left shoulder.
So I think that one who writes historical fiction might want to study sources such as you have pointed out, while those into the fantasy end of things might want to use them as a basis for developing the heraldry of the world(s) we create.
Dave