Heraldry was an important part of everyday life in early modern 16th century Germany. It defined in easily identifiable pictures who and what belonged to whom. It was used by towns and families alike to mark property, identify members of the family and staff, and served as a rallying point for patriotic identity. However, it was not always easy for the ordinary person to keep track of which flag belonged to which town or family. During this era, many heraldry books and resources were created and published to assist in identification, such as this guide to the heraldic flags of the Holy Roman Empire. Published originally in 1545, this guide provides the modern reader with an amazing wealth of 143 full color woodcuts depicting the flags, Landsknecht military clothing and amour of the time. Amazingly, the woodcuts were painted very close to the publication date, resulting in a fantastic reference source for the wide range of colors and styles in male military clothing fashions for the 1540s. It's a must have reference book for anyone interested in mid-16th century German clothing, armor or heraldry.