In the autobiography of Nate Leipzig, published serially in M-U-M (1953-1954), Leipzig described in the opening installment (Vol. 43, No. 4, Sept. 1953, p. 125) a performance he witnessed as a boy or young man of Professor Stork (probably Harry Stork) in Detroit, in which he did this trick. The incident isn't dated, but since Leipzig's family didn't come to the U.S. until 1882, it must have occurred sometime after this and before the turn of the century, thus predating John Scarne's performances by many years. Also see “The Salamandrine Card” in Sachs's Sleight of Hand (1877), p. 186; and on p. 131 of Roterberg's New Era Card Tricks (1895).