This concept was in use among mid-19th century European conjurers. It was described in R.P.'s Ein Spiel Karten, 1853, p. 43 of the Pieper translation, under the title “The Non Plus Ultra.” Johann Hofzinser was also using the idea around the same time, and near the same place, which was published as “The Sympathetic Numbers” in Kartenkünste, 1910, p. 23 of the Sharpe translation.