F.B.A. provides an in-depth photographic presentation of this item to stimulate your feeling and touch. More traditional book descriptions are immediately available.

A quality book.

In England no one is compelled to bear Arms unless he wishes; but should he desire to do so, the Inland Revenue requires a payment of one or two guineas, according to the method of use. From this voluntary taxation the yearly revenue exceeds £70,000. This affords pretty clear evidence that Armory is still decidedly popular, and that its use and display are extensive; but at the same time, it would be foolish to suppose that the estimation in which Armory is held, is equal to, or approaches, the romantic value which in former days was attached to the inheritance of Arms. The result of this has been—and it is not to be wondered at—that ancient examples are accepted and extolled beyond what should be the case. It should be borne in mind that the very ancient examples of Armory which have come down to us, may be examples of the handicraft of ignorant individuals; and it is not safe to accept unquestioningly laws of Arms which are deduced from Heraldic handicraft of other days. Most of them are correct, because as a rule such handicraft was done under supervision; but there is always the risk that it has not been; and this risk should be borne in mind when estimating the value of any particular example of Armory as proof or contradiction of any particular Armorial law. There were “heraldic stationers” before the present day.

Review: I have books by the two gurus of British Heraldry by Fox-Davies and Boutell. Both are reference books and go into heraldry in an advanced manner. The Complete Guide to Heraldry is for beginners and gives the reader more than a start into the subject so that the advanced books can take you further into this absorbing subject. This book is worth its weight in gold.
It includes templates so that you can photocopy them time and time again to use as your imagination desires to create your own coat of arms, not that the College of Heralds would necessarily approve of your design. I challenge you to read this easily readable book and not to want to go further into the subject.
Although heraldry is, and must be, rule-bound this book does not get bogged down. I highly recommend it to beginner and intermediate devotee alike.