The arms of The Honourable Cordwainers' Company (displayed on the title page) were initially derived from the arms granted to The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, circa 1579. These armorials were in turn adapted by The Friendly Society of Cordwainers of England, circa 1784, The Union Society of Cordwainers of the City & Liberties of Philedelphia, circa 1790, and again adapted by the Honourable Cordwainers' Company in 1986. The cresent shaped "round knife" appears in the arms of the Edinburgh Cordwainers, circa 1780, and is displayed by us as a symbol of unity with all the leather trades, many having used this form of knife since the Egyptian Dynasties. the male and female supporters proclaim the mutual roles played by both sexes in our trade since the earliest times. The colors of The Honourable Cordwainers' Company are azure (blue) and gold, proudly adopted out of respect for The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, who have used these colors in their armorials for many centuries.
Below are displayed some historic arms from both England and France.
