The Société française d’héraldique et de sigillographie, founded in 1937, is an independent association constituted in accordance with the French law of 1901 (non-profit association). Its purpose is to “contribute to the development of studies related to heraldry and sigillography, thanks to meetings, speeches, colloquiums, symposiums and publications” (statutes, art.2). Its members are professors, teachers, researchers, students and persons from various backgrounds interested in both auxiliary historical disciplines. Its main financial resources are its members’ contributions.

As such, series of conferences are organised every year in Paris, at the Centre d’Accueil et de Recherche des Archives Nationales (CARAN). The Society also organises or supports many colloquiums or study days in Paris or elsewhere in France (News).

Since 1938, the Society has published the Revue Française d’Héraldique et de Sigillographie. This erudite journal presents substantive articles, documentary chronicles, bibliographies and working instruments. Occasionally, it publishes or contributes to the publication of conference proceedings or exhibition catalogues (Publications).

The Society regularly provides a liaison bulletin to its members and a newsletter for a wider public, indicating recent publications, events related to the history of coats of arms or seals, and, more widely, to the history of the emblematic (News).