This book was written by magician P.T. Selbit, one of the first to perform the '"sawing a woman in half" illusion. It was also illustrated by him under his birth name, Tibbles and published by Ornum's, which was run by George Munro, one of the founders of the Magic Circle.

The original publisher's tan cloth binding's design and illustration is influenced more by the contemporary Art Nouveau style than the books magical content, giving it a modern feel in contrast to its Victorian predecessors. The central illustration is typical of the style with a female profile formed from curved, free-flowing lines.