jmd
I was struck the other day when re-reading Waite's 'The Tarot: a Wheel of Fortune' (Occult Review, December 1909 - I have already mentioned a depiction from this publication in the thread The Sun's 'extra' ray - a suggested explanation) how 'clearly' the wand upon the table seems like a snake - and thus, to me at least, reminiscent of Moses's Staff or wand.
The cards there depicted are the earliest imprint we have of the deck, preceding the first imprint (or Pam-A) of, likewise, December 1909.
Unlike later imprints, in which that staff may be seen more ambiguously as staff and as serpent/snake, this early rendition makes it difficult to avoid seeing it snake-like, but also, therefore, snake-turned-to-staff.
Perhaps, for those who habitually use this deck, this impression of this staff-as-snake is more common... but the point here is more that the earliest imprint we have of the deck seems to suggest an intended depiction.
The cards there depicted are the earliest imprint we have of the deck, preceding the first imprint (or Pam-A) of, likewise, December 1909.
Unlike later imprints, in which that staff may be seen more ambiguously as staff and as serpent/snake, this early rendition makes it difficult to avoid seeing it snake-like, but also, therefore, snake-turned-to-staff.
Perhaps, for those who habitually use this deck, this impression of this staff-as-snake is more common... but the point here is more that the earliest imprint we have of the deck seems to suggest an intended depiction.