Perth (Scotland)

PERTH

Incorporated into : 1975 Perth and Kinross District Council (1996 Perth and Kinross Area Council)

Official blazon

Gules, a holy lamb passant reguardant staff and cross Argent, with the banner of Saint Andrew Proper, all within a double tressure [flowered and] counterflowered of the Second, the escutcheon being surmounted on the breast of an eagle with two necks displayed Or.

The Motto in an Escrol "Pro Rege Lege et Grege".

Origin/meaning

The arms were registered in 1673.

Perth, the former Capital of Scotland, is a Royal Burgh of King David I dating from between 1124 and 1127.

The arms use the red and silver colours of St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of "the Fair City of Perth". They show the Holy Lamb who is always associated with the Saint (John I :29) carrying a St. Andrew's flag.

The arms are set within a Royal tressure, a special mark of Royal favour. There is on record a 1378 impression of a Burgh seal which shows the arms, with the tressure, virtually as used today.

The shield has for bearer a double-headed eagle, which is thought to be a Roman eagle and to recall that there was once an important Roman settlement called "Bertha" in the vicinity of Perth.

The Latin motto "For King, law and people" is mentioned as being a favourite one of William the Silent, Prince of Orange (1533-1584), and as there were many trading links between Perth and the Netherlands, it may have been adopted by the town in the latter part of the sixteen^th century, in admiration of the struggle the Prince was waging to free his country from Spanish occupation.

Seal of the burgh as used in the 1890s	The arms on a cigarette card, pre 1910	The arms on a cigarette card, pre 1910
The arms on a postcard (pre 1918)	The arms as used on a JaJa postcard +/- 1905	The arms in the Coffee Hag albums +/- 1935

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