Vexillological_symbols Vexillological_symbols

Vexillological symbols - Definition and Overview

A vexillological symbol is used by vexillologists to indicate certain characteristics of national flags, such as where they are used, who uses them, and what they look like. The set of symbols described in this article are known as international flag identification symbols, which were devised by Whitney Smith.

Usage

A special grid-type symbol (
FIAV_63.png
Image:FIAV_63.png

) is used to indicate locations of use and which parties may use each flag. The format of the symbol is a grid of three squares by two squares, with the presence or absence of a filled circle in each square to indicate usage or non-usage respectively. The general layout of this symbol is as follows:

Civil State War
Flag Privately used on land Publicly used on land Used on land by military
Ensign Privately used at sea Publicly used at sea Used at sea by military

Properties

Other symbols are used to describe how a flag looks, such as whether it has a different design on each side, or if it is hung vertically, etc. These are the symbols in general use:


IFIS_Normal.png
Image:IFIS_Normal.png

Normal or de jure version of flag, or obverse side

IFIS_Proposed.png
Image:IFIS_Proposed.png

Design was proposed in the past, but never officially adopted

IFIS_Reconstruction.png
Image:IFIS_Reconstruction.png

Design is a reconstruction, based on past observations

IFIS_Reverse.png
Image:IFIS_Reverse.png

Reverse side of flag

IFIS_Variant.png
Image:IFIS_Variant.png

Design is an acceptable variant

IFIS_Alternate.png
Image:IFIS_Alternate.png

Alternate version of flag

IFIS_De_facto.png
Image:IFIS_De_facto.png

De facto version of flag

IFIS_Two-sided.png
Image:IFIS_Two-sided.png

Flag has different designs on its obverse side and its reverse side

IFIS_Sinister.png
Image:IFIS_Sinister.png

Obverse side meant to be hoisted with pole to the observer's right

IFIS_Authorized.png
Image:IFIS_Authorized.png

Design officially authorized to represent nation by government of that nation

IFIS_Historical.png
Image:IFIS_Historical.png

Design used in the past, but now abandoned (this symbol is not part of Smith's original set)

IFIS_Mirror.png
Image:IFIS_Mirror.png

Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side

IFIS_Equal.png
Image:IFIS_Equal.png

Reverse side is congruent to obverse side

IFIS_No_reverse_info.png
Image:IFIS_No_reverse_info.png

Information on reverse side is not available

IFIS_Vertical_normal.png
Image:IFIS_Vertical_normal.png

Flag can be hung vertically by hoisting on a normal pole, then turning the pole ninety degrees

IFIS_Vertical_rotated.png
Image:IFIS_Vertical_rotated.png

Flag can be hung vertically by rotating the design first

IFIS_Vertical_unknown.png
Image:IFIS_Vertical_unknown.png

Vertical hoist method of flag is unknown

IFIS_Vertical_inapplicable.png
Image:IFIS_Vertical_inapplicable.png

Design has no element which can be rotated

IFIS_Vertical_exclusive.png
Image:IFIS_Vertical_exclusive.png

Flag can only be hoisted vertically
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