In the autobiography of Nate Leipzig, published serially beginning in M-U-M, Vol. 43 No. 4, Sep. 1953, p. 125, Leipzig described 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 better-known performances of this trick by many years.

Also see “The Salamandrine Card” in Edwin Sachs's Sleight of Hand, 1877, p. 186, and “The Halved Card” in August Roterberg's New Era Card Tricks, 1897, p. 130.