There is something odd here. In the Gaborria collection are two Misraim texts. One is said to be a 51th degree ritual, the other one has a bit of a vague description: “Le Chevalier du soleil. Prince Adepte. Grade philosophique composé par le bénédictin Don Pernetti. 28e de l’Ecossisme. 51e de Misraïm. 72e grade de la 8e série du Chap… Métr… de Fr…”. In short, a 28th Scottish degree, a 51th Misraim degree and also a 72nd degree in the Metropolitan Chapter. It is -indeed- the 72nd ‘degree’ in the collection of 81 that was compressed to the seven degrees of the French Rite.
When you look at both tracing boards, it seems that we are not looking at two serpents on a cross (or Caduceus), as the snakes appear to ‘stand up (somewhat) straight’.
It occurred to me, that these tracing boards are very similar to “Chevalier du Soleil” tracing boards that are not part of Memphis and/or Misraim, such as this example:
But also more contemporary 28th degree Scottish Rite tracing boards still show a lot of similarities.
I also found a German tracing board which is very similar, but there it is a “Tempelherren” degree:
In his book, Mathieu Ravignat (see “further reading“) has translated one of the Gaborria rituals to English (hence, a Misraim text). The tracing board description contains the line: “a Celestial Globe surmounted by a Cross with two serpents interlaced”. Well, on either Misraim drawings, the serpents are not interlaced. Perhaps this was corrected in later (?) versions?
That we are indeed talking about interlaced snakes, shows in Ravignat’s translation. There is a “Lecture on the Tracing Board for Masons” which says:
The Cross entwined by the two serpents, signifies that it is necessary to follow the common prejudices (of society) and not reveal the contents (opinions) of the bottom of your heart with regards to things religious.
There is also a “Lecture on the Tracing Board for Alchemists and Adepts” which states:
The Caduceus is the Double Mercury which is extracted from matter, meaning the fixed Mercury that becomes gold or silver.
Also see: two serpents on a cross, caduceus and Virgo Immaculata.
Top left: Bibliothèque Numérique Patrimoniale, Fonds Gaborria Ms.-353
Top right: Bibliothèque Numérique Patrimoniale, Fonds Gaborria Ms.-401
Colour plate: BnF Les Essentielles
Collection complète des tous les grades connus dans l’Art Royal de la Franmaçonerie (sic) à Edimbourg 5780
Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchive HStAD, D 4, 585/7