In Professor Henri Garenne's The Art of Modern Conjuring, 1886, p. 43, a trick called “Spelling Bee” appeared. It was less of a magic trick, and more of an amusing demonstration with cards. In it, a packet of thirteen cards were held. The conjuror spelled “A-C-E,” and the Ace showed up on the final letter. “T-W-O” was spelled next, revealing a deuce. This continued for all thirteen values. David Williamson updated this trick with a humorous presentation in Williamson's Wonders, 1989, p. 54.

Bill Kalush suggests that it was Dr. Elliott who, in his “Three-Card Speller,” c. 1900, was the first to use the spelling procedure to find a previously made selection. Kalush's research was first released for the 31 Faces North convention, Aug. 2007, and later revised for inclusion in Gibeciere, Vol. 5 No. 1, Winter 2010, p. 11.

For a history of early published versions of the spelling plot, see Karl Fulves's Latter Day Secrets, No. 10, 2005, p. 433.