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HomeThe NAVA Seal

The Seal of NAVA

Seal designed by David Martucci

Artwork by John Mattingly, 2019



The NAVA seal is actually two things: a physical seal used to emboss documents and an artistic representation of it used on stationery, web site mastheads, etc.  

The physical “corporate seal” is held by the Secretary—used to authenticate official NAVA documents.  It is a metal object, encased in a device which creates an embossed imprint when squeezing paper or foil.  The physical seal, and the images it produces, have no color and the details are minimal.  However, representations of the seal that are used on the website and other documents include color and artistic detail. 

The elements of the seal are defined in NAVA’s bylaws.  The definition is analogous to a grant-of-arms in heraldry, which defines the elements of a coat of arms.  However, the artistic presentation of a coat of arms is up to the artist.  For example, a grant-of-arms might specify “a lion rampant gules”, but it does not define the artistic details of the lion (other than that it is red and rearing up on its hind legs).  The same is true of the artistic presentation of the NAVA seal.

The most recent interpretation, shown here, was created by John Mattingly in 2019.

The Second NAVA Seal
Adopted 1968

Seal designed by David Martucci

Original Artwork, 1969

At NAVA 2 in 1968, the membership chose as the seal of the North American Vexillological Association the design submitted by David Martucci, bearing the NAVA flag displayed above a globe tilted to give prominence to North America, the whole surrounded by the name of the Association and the date 1967, within two concentric circles.  The seal replaced the first version adopted in March 1968.

The artwork for the new seal was prepared under the supervision of Capt. James W. Clark of Bel Air, Maryland.  He had the original drawing framed, and presented it to the Association as a historic document.  The actual 1¾ inch seal was ordered by Emmet V. Mittebeeler on July 14, 1969 from Lamb Seal & Stencil Co. of Washington, D.C.  It cost US$57.20.

In 1991, the seal’s design was incorporated into NAVA's bylaws as section 2.01, providing that the "corporate seal shall be kept by the secretary and used only as directed by the executive board...".

The First NAVA Seal
March 1967-October 1968

The Original Seal

designed by Whitney Smith

At the 1967 annual meeting, the membership delegated the authority to adopt NAVA's seal. On a motion presented by President Pierre Lux-Wurm, seconded by William Dwiggins, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved that the Flag and Seal Committee be empowered to select a design for a corporate seal, to have a die of the seal made at the expense of the Association and to have printed for the use of the elected officers and committees of the Association a reasonable quantity of stationery bearing the emblem.


NAVA's original seal is described in the March 1968 issue of NAVA News:

The NAVA Flag and Seal Committee also met [on March 3, 1968], electing Gary Grahl as chairman and Thomas Hill as secretary.  The committee reviewed the four designs, which had been submitted in the NAVA seal contest, and voted in favor of a design by Whitney Smith.

For the seal of the North American Vexillological Association it is proposed to show America and her armadillo to symbolize the geographical extent of the society.  Although the arrows of war are not missing, she holds before her a flag to represent the exploration of new territories and a book for the pursuits of statesmen as the sources of new flags in North America.  The flag is that of the Association and of course the book suggests the scholarly interests of its members.  Those who wish to do so may read into the armadillo the qualities of the vexillologist—slow but sure progress, a tendency to burrow deeply, and imperviousness to outside pressures.


Dr. Smith's seal design was adopted on March 3, 1968:

Flag and Seal Committee Report: The chairman, Gary Grahl, reported that the committee had selected the entry of Whitney Smith as the NAVA seal, to be used on the Association's stationery and publications.
By general consent, the NAVA President Whitney Smith was authorized to design and order a sufficient quantity of NAVA stationery, using the newly adopted seal.

This first NAVA seal was replaced seven months later.  David Martucci later made the following humorous and gracious comment: "My design beat out Whitney Smith's, but only because some of the members didn't think a half-naked Indian maiden on an armadillo was 'proper!'  I still think his design is better than mine!"

Note:  No person may use the association's corporate seal, including use on stationery or other printed matter, without the written permission of the executive board.