Initial Drafts for the for the Coat of Arms of the Kyakhta Governorate (1852–1856).

The aim of the study is to elucidate the intermediate phases in the formation of the Kyakhta Governorate’s heraldry during the period of 1852–1856. Based on archival sources from the Russian State Historical Archive, the author examines the documents of heraldic activities and the accompanying drawings. Beyond the examination of specific materials, particular attention is paid to the activities of the principal heraldic institutions of the designated period – namely, the Department of Heraldry and the Statistical Division of the Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the course of his work, the author comes to the conclusion that the period of 1852–1856 was only a transitional period for the creation of the coat of arms of the Kyakhta City Government, resulting in the creation of six main designs. However, it has its own identity and is currently a valuable and, unfortunately, understudied stage in the development of Russian territorial heraldry in the 19th century.