It is thought that the first mention of this trick appeared in Crambrook's Catalogue of Magical Curiosities and Deceptions, 1843, p. 13, item “21. The Worsted Trick”. The effect is oddly stated but this identification is probably correct.

An early description of this trick, using the standard metal slide, appears in The Magicians' Own Book, Anon., 1857, also published as The Boy's Own Conjuring Book, Anon., 1859. See p. 33 of the former.

A close relative of this effect is that of a coin appearing in a nest of boxes. This appeared in W. Hooper's Rational Recreations Volume 4, 1774, p. 288. The method given by Hooper does not use the metal slide. This aid was adopted at some later time for this trick.