Vexillological symbols are used by vexillologists to indicate certain characteristics of flags, such as where they are used, who uses them, and what they look like. The symbols were created by vexillologist Whitney Smith and then adopted by the International Federation of Vexillological Associations (FIAV) in the early 1970s.[1] Vexillologist Željko Heimer added the symbols for Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag normal and Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flaghistorical in the early 1990s.[2]

Status and design symbols

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Vexillological symbols describe information on a flag's recognition status and design.

List of symbols
Symbol Meaning
Normal or de jure version of flag, or obverse side
Design was proposed in the past, but never officially adopted
Design is a reconstruction, based on past observation
Reverse side of flag
An acceptable variant of the standard flag
One of several alternative versions of the flag that can be displayed
De facto flag, widely accepted and used
Flag has different designs on its obverse side and its reverse side
Obverse side meant to be hoisted with pole to the observer's right
Design officially authorized to represent nation by government of that nation (not necessary to use when the de jure symbol is used)
Design used in the past, but now abandoned
Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Reverse side is congruent to the obverse side
Information on reverse side is not available
Flag can be hung vertically by hoisting on a normal pole, then turning the pole 90°
Flag can be hung vertically by rotating the design first
Vertical hoist method of flag is unknown
Design has no element which can be rotated
Flags can only be hoisted vertically
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag is not authorized to represent the group or country
Examples
  • Flag of Paraguay The normal and two-sided symbols indicate this is the obverse side of an authorized flag, and that the reverse side is different.
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Paraguay
    The normal and two-sided symbols indicate this is the obverse side of an authorized flag, and that the reverse side is different.
  • Flag of Paraguay The reverse, official, and two-sided symbols indicate this is the reverse side of an authorized flag, and that the obverse side is different.
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagDesign officially authorized to represent nation by government of that nationSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Paraguay
    The reverse, official, and two-sided symbols indicate this is the reverse side of an authorized flag, and that the obverse side is different.
  • Flag of France The normal symbol indicates this is the official flag of the nation.
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of France
    The normal symbol indicates this is the official flag of the nation.
  • Flag of France The normal and variant symbols indicate this flag is an acceptable variant of the national flag.
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of France
    The normal and variant symbols indicate this flag is an acceptable variant of the national flag.
  • Flag of Antarctica The de facto symbol indicates the flag is widely accepted and used, but not codified by law.
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Antarctica
    The de facto symbol indicates the flag is widely accepted and used, but not codified by law.
  • Flag of the Margraviate of Austria (976–1136) The historical and reconstructed symbols indicate the flag is no longer in use, and the design is based on historical records and artifacts.
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the Margraviate of Austria (976–1136)
    The historical and reconstructed symbols indicate the flag is no longer in use, and the design is based on historical records and artifacts.

Usage symbols

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The usage symbols are based on a grid of two rows representing use on land and use on water, and three columns representing private use, public use, and military use. Each circle in the grid indicates the flag has one or more of the following six basic usages:

Private Public Military
Land Civil flag

Flown by private citizens on land

State flag

Flown by the government on land

War flag

Flown by the military on land

Water Civil ensign

Flown by private vessels

State ensign

Flown by government vessels

Naval ensign

Flown by military vessels

A single design may be associated with no usages or multiple usages. Heimer suggested an additional row for air ensigns, but it has not been adopted by FIAV. The air ensign row refers to flags displayed on aircraft, including when on the ground, and air installations. The air ensign row is placed above the remaining two rows.[2]

List of symbols
Symbol Meaning Symbol Meaning
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag National flag
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag National ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag War flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State and war flag, war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State flag, civil and war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and state flags and ensigns
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag War ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State and war flags and ensigns
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and state flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag National flag, civil ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State and war flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag National flag, state ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag National flag, civil and state ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State and war ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag National flag, state and war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil flag and ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State and war flag, national ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State flag and ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and state flag, national ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag War flag and ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag National flag and ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and war ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil flag, war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil flag, state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil flag, state and war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil flag, civil and war ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil flag, civil and state ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil flag, national ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and war flag
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and war flag, war ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and war flag, state ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and war flag, state and war ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and war flag, civil ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and war flags and ensigns Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and war flag, civil and state ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and war flag, national ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and state flag, war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and state flag, state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and state flag, state and war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and state flag, civil ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Civil and state flag, civil and war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State flag, war ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State flag, state and war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State flag, civil ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State flag, state and civil ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State flag, national ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State flag and ensign, war flag
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State and war flag, civil ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State and war flag, civil and war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag State and war flag, civil and state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag War flag, state ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag War flag, state and war ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag War flag, civil ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag War flag, civil and war ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag War flag, civil and state ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag War flag, national ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag National flag, war ensign
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag National flag, civil and war ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Other
Examples
  • The civil flag and ensign of Peru is used by Peruvian citizens on land and sea
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag The civil flag and ensign of Peru is used by Peruvian citizens on land and sea
  • The state flag and ensign is used by the Peruvian government on land and sea
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag The state flag and ensign is used by the Peruvian government on land and sea
  • The war flag is used by the Peruvian Army
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag The war flag is used by the Peruvian Army
  • The naval ensign is used by the Peruvian Navy
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag The naval ensign is used by the Peruvian Navy

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FIAV Flag Information Symbols". CRW Flags. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  2. ^ a b "The FAME: Symbols and Abbreviations". zeljko-heimer-fame.from.hr. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
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