it was very interesting reading the posts throughout this whole thread, seeing that catboxer and jmd have covered the historical side, while diana has certainly mentioned all of the important points about the symbolical side.
first, the top of the crown that goes outside the of frame, which other than this card appears only at The World, in a much bolder way. here, it isnt something that you notice immediately such as in The World - just like the curtains, it might show that the high priestess is hiding her true nature.
second, the flesh-colored book. although jmd has mentioned that the colors are different than what they originally were, this detail is well noticed especially in the decks where her skin color is dead white. while she is covered from head to toe and the little seen of her skin is as white as a wall, the book is fleshy and vivid.
it might show that the way to reach the high priestess and create a contact with her, is her intelect and wisdom, her mind. despite of the curtains and the coldness she reflects, there is a way to get to her - following the middle line of the book, through the vertical lines of the two crosses in the blue strip attached to the book, leads under the curtains, to the area of her heart.
Ben Dov, which i so much like to read and quote (and which connects La Papesse only to pope joan, so it was very interesting for me to read what catboxer had to say about that), also mentions in his article about the high priestess that in the camoin's card, the book has 8 lines on one page and 9 lines on the other - together 17 - which "redirects" you to The Star, the card which shows pretty much the opposite of what the high priestess does, and might show her craving to express her true nature, like the streaming nature and the naked character appearing in the star, instead of all those curtains she is wrapped in.
also, putting La papesse and La pape next to each other creates an interesting picture: on one hand, they are sitting back to back, looking in the opposite direction of eachother, and not only that, the curtains on the high priestess head and behind it make the disconnecton alot more clear. on the other hand, that image which is created makes them look as if they're working as a team - there are many similarities between the cards (other than the obviously related names), such as their clothing, their crowns, and a diagonal line appearing in the two cards at the same place - in La Papesse, its the middle line of the book and the blue strip with the crosses continuing it, and in La Pape, its the position of his left hand and the two fingers. it makes them look like they're on the same team, the same mission, to pass on the knowlegde they have - they are facing outside, him with his hand and her with her book, teaching the surrounding.
with regards,
Supletion.