- Coat of arms of Newfoundland and Labrador
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The Arms of Newfoundland and Labrador 
Versions 
Shield
For use by the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and LabradorDetails Armiger Elizabeth II in Right of Newfoundland & Labrador Adopted 1637, fell into disuse, readopted 1928 Crest Upon a wreath Or & Gules an elk passant proper Escutcheon Gules a cross argent, in the first quarter a lion passant gardant crowned Or in the second quarter a Unicorn passant argent armed maned and unguled Or gorged with a crown a chain affixed thereto passing between his forelegs and reflexed over his back Or in the third quarter as in the second in the fourth quarter as in the first Supporters Two Beothuks garbed for war proper Motto QUAERITE PRIME REGNUM DEI
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God."
A quote from The Gospel According to St. Matthew 6:33The coat of arms of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador was originally granted by King Charles I of England on 13 November 1638[1]
Contents
History
David Kirke, Governor of Newfoundland from 1638 to 1651, was the original bearer of the arms, which later faded into obscurity.
In 1893, D.W. Prowse published A History of Newfoundland, in which he printed a copy of the Newfoundland arms. Prowse erroneously attributed the armorial bearings to John Guy. The Newfoundland Post Office perpetuated his error by issuing a 1910 two-cent stamp depicting the arms and indicating they were issued to the London and Bristol Company, which financed Guy's colonization attempt.
The Newfoundland arms were rediscovered by London archivists after World War I, and in 1928 became the official coat of arms of the Dominion of Newfoundland.[2]
Symbolism
- Newfoundland's caribou herds are represented by the elk in the crest, as European heralds .
- Two white unicorns and two yellow lions occupy opposing quadrants of the shield. This part of the Coat of Arms recalls the royal beasts that support the arms of the Monarch, the crowned lion represents England and the crowned unicorn standing for Scotland.
- A mossy knoll
- The two Beothuk supporters are a reference to the indigenous population of Newfoundland.
- Quaerite prime Regnum Dei, quoting Matthew 6:33 from the Bible, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God".[2]
See also
- Symbols of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Canadian heraldry
- National symbols of Canada
- List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols
- Heraldry
References
- ^ "RSNL1990 CHAPTER C-20 – COAT OF ARMS ACT". Earl G. Tucker, Queen's Printer. 2006. http://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/c20.htm. Retrieved 6 September 2008.
- ^ a b "Heraldry and Flags: Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage". Memorial University of Newfoundland. http://www.heritage.nf.ca/facts3.html. Retrieved 6 September 2008.
External links
Heraldry in CanadaOrganizations National arms Provincial and
territorial armsAlberta · British Columbia · Manitoba · New Brunswick · Newfoundland and Labrador · Northwest Territories · Nova Scotia · Nunavut · Ontario · Prince Edward Island · Quebec · Saskatchewan · YukonMunicipal arms
of capital citiesOttawa · Charlottetown · Edmonton · Fredericton · Halifax · Iqaluit · Quebec City · Regina · St. John's · Toronto · Victoria · Whitehorse · Winnipeg · Yellowknife · MoreRelated Categories:- Provincial symbols of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Canadian provincial and territorial coats of arms
- Canadian heraldry stubs
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