I have also concluded the same thing in my research for my most recent book. The modern Elephant's move was first proposed by Albers in his Courier-Spiel in 1821. As far as I am concerned I had used that Elephant, under that name, in Shako and Tamerlane II (first version) since 1990. In my mind, I wanted to include the moves of the ancestors of the Queen and Bishop into that piece. Then I gave the Elephant the move of the Ferz and the Alfil.
I have also concluded the same thing in my research for my most recent book. The modern Elephant's move was first proposed by Albers in his Courier-Spiel in 1821. As far as I am concerned I had used that Elephant, under that name, in Shako and Tamerlane II (first version) since 1990. In my mind, I wanted to include the moves of the ancestors of the Queen and Bishop into that piece. Then I gave the Elephant the move of the Ferz and the Alfil.