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Complete Flags of the World: The Ultimate Pocket Guide

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Are you learning the flags of the world at school or home? Or do you always wonder which flags belong to which countries at sporting events? This clear guide is what you need!

Flying the flag for countries all over the world, Complete Flags of the World is a comprehensive reference handbook, suitable for readers of all ages. Learn about the history, symbolism, parts, colors, and types of flags, and identify the flags of different nations from around the world - discovering their cultural importance and special meanings along the way.

This is the ultimate educational book of flags, covering more than 400 examples of flags from geography, communications, politics, sport, history, and art. Detailed notes and annotations reveal the flags' origins and development, and explain the significance of colors, symbols, crests, and coats of arms.

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, if you're a flag fanatic, this handy guide is exactly the reference that you need.

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

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About the author

D.K. Publishing

9,140 books2,051 followers
Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

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5 stars
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68 (34%)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for MatildaWolf.
10 reviews
March 29, 2023
A fun read overall; but the way that information was presented was inconsistent throughout the book due to the publishers seemingly only wanting one page per national flag. Therefore, sometimes we got the see previous flags and coat of arms for a country, and other times there's only basic text descriptions of them.
Profile Image for Issam.
8 reviews50 followers
February 16, 2018
A good book for anyone interested in vexillology. The book shares the flags of the worlds as well as the arms of some countries, their meaning and all of its characteristics (type, colors,...), with a brief history of the country in question plus its location on the map.
Profile Image for Tarrant Harris.
4 reviews
May 29, 2024
Fantastic insight into the world's flags, the only criticism is that I failed to find a pocket that this book fit into. Time I could have spent finding friends or not disappointing loved ones and not trying to fit this monolith into different pockets. A short coming of myself rather than the publisher.
Profile Image for Audrianna Harbaruk.
2 reviews
March 11, 2024
A bit outdated, but a simple google search will help you keep up with current times of flags, but it is an easy, simplistic book to start at if you want to learn about flags
Profile Image for Emma.
4,952 reviews12 followers
June 28, 2024
I'm trying but I am not going to remember all of these flags.
Profile Image for Nick.
Author 21 books140 followers
March 22, 2025
All the flags, and how to read them.
Profile Image for Soobie is expired.
7,137 reviews134 followers
December 5, 2018
It's good but it could have been way better!

I read it because I downloaded an app about geography quizzes and flags are an important part of the game. I thought that knowing a little more about the maps would have helped me remember more flags. And it did!

I like the explanation, the illustrations and the maps, although I know where 98% of the nations are located. I love the fact that it added some regional flags (not the Italian ones, though) and some coat of arms.

I absolutely hate when there was something written next to the flag and the very same thing was written in the next underneath. I hate repetition. I also hate when something was explained and there was no picture to illustrate it.

As a bathroom-reading it was perfect!

I'll probably buy the next edition if it will ever be published!
Profile Image for Hotavio.
192 reviews8 followers
June 19, 2009
A nice reference guide or something to spare random glances at. The guide shares terminology, symbology, and history (along with differing versions) of flags.
The book serves as an annotated history of modern nations. It also features a few common non-national flags, but it this venue it is incomplete.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
730 reviews109 followers
March 5, 2011
Although some entries have more information than others, this is a good reference of world flags. It has a good uncluttered layout and nice reproductions of the flags in terms of size and color. I really liked that it had small maps of each nation (any book that discusses geography simply must have maps.) State and province maps are included.
Profile Image for Arjun.
608 reviews32 followers
November 2, 2023
"Complete Flags of the World" by D.K. Publishing is a visually stunning and comprehensive guide to flags from around the globe. With detailed illustrations and historical insights, it offers a captivating journey into the symbolism and meaning behind each flag. A must-have reference for anyone interested in vexillology and world cultures.
Profile Image for Indah Threez Lestari.
13.4k reviews270 followers
April 1, 2011
370th - 2011

Indonesia baru muncul di halaman 212. Hm... apakah ada hubungannya dengan Kapak Naga Geni 212 atau malah Agen Polisi 212? *nggak nyambung.com*

Yang jelas, bersyukurlah negara kita memiliki bendera yang sederhana sehingga bocah batita pun dapat menggambarnya...
Profile Image for Vämpiriüs.
547 reviews3 followers
January 7, 2025
Prima kniha pro každého, koho zajímá historie a symbolika vlajek. Navíc se u novějších vydání mohou určité detaily měnit neboť se všechno průběžně může změnit. Za mě aktuálně plus a rád se podívám i na starší verzi.
Profile Image for Kris.
Author 90 books10 followers
March 5, 2012
Love flags, love this book. THe only knock is that they talk about a few older national flags for some countries but don't show them. I want to see them all!
Profile Image for Paul.
985 reviews17 followers
August 27, 2014
A few typos and no doubt soon to be out of date, but an absolutely wondrous read for any budding vexillologist. Personally, I'd love to see UK county flags included.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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