Note: One of the essential skills of a vexillologist consists in rigorously verifying and documenting flag information sources. All too often – even after almost a half-century of pleading by leading flag scholars – many vexillological journals and most websites still fail to provide adequate sources for the flags they report.
If we want the world to take our information seriously, if we want our passion for flags to be respected as a scientific endeavor, we must practice professionalism and scientific rigor in documenting our sources of flag information.
Toward that critical goal, NAVA asked Commandant du Payrat – author of the first major revision of the classic Album des pavillions – to detail the process he used to complete this extraordinary work representing a vexillological reference bridge to the 21st century. Herewith Commandant du Payrat’s comments, which he is making freely available to print and electronic media.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY USED for the 2000 EDITION of
ALBUM des PAVILLONS
Commandant Armand du Payrat
INTRODUCTION
The updated, larger-format 2000 edition of the Album des pavillons et des marques distinctives (Album des pavillons et des marques distinctives (National Flags and Distinctive Markings) – published by S.H.O.M., the Hydrographic and Oceanographical Service of the French Navy – is an extensive, full-color compendium in French and English of all flags and markings that a ship might encounter at sea or in port.
For every country, an A-4 page (210 x 297mm or 8.3 x 11.7 inches) illustrates:
• the national flag, jack, and war pennant;
• the personal flag of the head of state;
• standards and markings of governmental authorities;
• flags of the maritime hierarchy and of official maritime services;
• state aircraft markings;
• flags of corresponding subnational states and autonomous territories.
At the end of the book, the new edition presents the flags of principal international organizations likely to be encountered at sea, followed by the flags of fishery inspection ships. A FIAV flag-use grid accompanies every national flag. Official or estimated colors are indicated in both Pantone and CMYK standards
(fig. 1).
I thank Professor Michel Lupant, President of FIAV (International Federation of Vexillological Associations), for kindly writing the introduction to this work.
SOURCES
The primary source I used for preparing this updated version was, of course, the 1990 edition of Album des pavillons, which in turn is heir to a long tradition going back to the classic work of Commandant Legras in 1851. In addition, I used:
• official documentation obtained from embassies;
• certified photographs and documents;
• information from reputable vexillologists;
• personal investigations by messages, e-mails, fax and mail.
DISCUSSION
Verifying an existing flag design or the specifications of a new flag is similar to detective work. The first information often arrives from a voluntary advisor, sometimes in one of some 50 daily e-mails from FOTW. I then verified and double-checked this initial information with official sources for a specific country, such as:
• that country’s embassy in France;
• the French embassy in that country;
• a port visit by a French Navy vessel;
• the official flag law text obtained by a friendly vexillologist.
Because the false tracks in such research are numerous, the results can rarely be considered final, and I usually had to move with considerable caution. A few typical examples:
• A Latvian vexillologist told me that he saw on television a new flag of coast guard ships: a red hollow cross on a green field. However, after investigating with the Latvian embassy in Paris and telephoning the Ministry of Defense in Riga, I discovered that the flag’s field is actually white.
• My search for the rank markings of the Ukrainian Navy led me to receive a whole series of reports, all called "official" by the Ukrainian Navy (fig. 2).
Consequently, these markings are even today accompanied in the final text by a footnote calling attention to their uncertain and precarious
character.
• The flag of the President of Mexico was another enthralling enigma. I had available decree no. 425 of November 1911, "General Ordinance of Armada," considered still in force, which stipulated in its article 1116 that the presidential flag was the national flag when it appeared at the tallest masthead. Further, an article by of Michel Lupant in July 1984, giving as its source the "Secretaria de Marina Mexico," specified for the Supreme Commander a white flag with five gold stars at the hoist under the national flag and with the Navy badge at the fly (an eagle holding a snake in its beak and two crossed anchors in its talons). Lastly, I received identical sets of five official colored panels from two sources: on 4 January 1999, from the Commander of the French Navy in the Antilles, and on 18 June 1999, from the French Defense Attaché in Mexico City. These panels featured the marks used on Mexican naval ships and specified that the mark of the President is the national flag with a column of five white stars on the green panel.
To resolve the doubt, on 23 July 1999 a petty officer of the French school cruiser "Jeanne d' Arc," visiting the "Armada of the Century" gathering of sailing ships in Rouen, France, inquired at my request with the Mexican school sailship "Cuauhtemoc." In addition, on 25 October 1999, a Mexican vexillologist friend went to see the Admiral Director of the Library of the Military Naval College. These two separate inquiries both agreed with Michel Lupant’s report regarding the presidential flag at sea. Finally, on 18 November 1999, the Attaché of Defense confirmed it to me and added that the national flag with five white stars on the green band is used in naval ceremonies. Thus, this particular enigma was solved ... until the next time (fig. 3 - above, left).
• In France itself, the design of President Chirac’s personal flag was for a time the subject of pressing requests from the vexillological world. Only after several telephone calls to the Elysée Palace was I able to confirm that the current President of the Republic had not chosen any special personal flag, but was satisfied, just like his Prime Minister, with the undefaced French Tricolor.
On every flag-specification page, which will be constantly reviewed and updated, I have arranged the various flags and markings on a buff background in as comprehensible a form as possible, working very closely with photoengraver Daniel Roudaut to ensure a high level of accuracy. The first draft was the result of numerous exchanges with Mr. Roudaut. I then submitted this draft to review by reputable vexillologists, particularly to specialists for particular countries. A few experts, among whom Professor Michel Lupant, received the complete text along with the final layout and colors specifications. I asked David Prothero to correct the English text, a task he accomplished with delicacy, rigor ... and humor!
After receiving the comments from my reviewers, I undertook an entire new effort to correct the errors and discrepancies that had been pointed out. This resulted in a second draft, often very different from the first, which was then carefully checked for color matches and converted into camera-ready art for the printing department.
This long but necessary process for creating a precise, authoritative vexillological reference manual began on 28 November 1998 and should come to fruition with a first printing in the fourth quarter of 2000. In vexillology, as in any other scientific endeavor, nothing worthwhile comes from precipitate action, and the step-by-step effort detailed above ensures that this new edition of Album des pavillions will become a trusted companion to sailors, naval administrators, flag manufacturers, encyclopedias – and to my vexillologist friends. I am already impatient to hear their observations and constructive criticisms that will help me prepare future updates and improvements.
I want to take this opportunity to pose the following questions to vexillologists worldwide:
• Should we show flags as they actually exist and are actually used, or should we record only "legal/lawful" flags that adhere closely to the law of a particular country? Both?
• Should we include flags of secessionist and autonomous countries or provinces? Where does one draw the line?
• What procedure should we adopt in the event of contradictory official information?
Finally, when the new Album becomes available in the fourth quarter of 2000, you will be able to obtain it from any of S.H.O.M.’s retailers, the most significant of whom is:
LIBRAIRIE MARITIME ET D'OUTRE-MER
17, rue Jacob
F-75007 Paris
FRANCE
LIBRAIRIE MARITIME ET D'OUTRE-MER
17, rue Jacob
F-75007 Paris
FRANCE
= 33-1- 43 29 96 77 (Credit cards accepted).The price is FF 965 (or approximately US$125 at current November 2000 rates) plus Shipping.
Looking forward to your observations,
Amicalement,
Armand du Payrat
EPSHOM - BP 426
F-29275 Brest Cedex
FRANCE
Tel = 33-2- 98 22 14 27 ; Fax = 33-2-98 22 14 32
e-mail = dupayrat@shom.fr