E. W. Cole began a small publishing and second-hand book-selling business in 1865, and by 1873 had opened the first incarnation of his book arcade, with the recognisable rainbow arch facade.

[1] The Cole's Book Arcade became one of the great iconic stores of Melbourne, Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[5]: pg 4  By November 1918, the book was in its 48th edition with 242 pages and more than 440,000 copies had been printed.

[5]: pg 5  A "New Century" Edition of the book was published in 1992, which included new puzzles and content.

Cole Turnley collaborated with his daughter Merron Cullum to produce a fourth book in 1991.