Flag (Eyewitness)

Each title in the "Eyewitness" series is an informative, visual account of the wonders of the world around us. Illustrated with colour photographs of objects from the natural world, from specialist museums and from rare private collections, the series offers a fresh approach to the mysteries of nature, history, science, arts, crafts and pastimes. This collection of specially commissioned photographs presents a detailed survey of flags, from national flags and signalling flags for use on land and sea to flags for ceremonial occasions. Beginning with the earliest objects to be used as flags - the standards of the ancient Egyptians and Romans - the book shows how the design of flags has been influenced by heraldry, and explains the meaning behind the most common colours and symbols used in flags today. There follows a country-by-country account of the most interesting national flags, from the Union Jack and Stars and Stripes to the French Tricolour.