It remains a common trick today, albeit mostly performed for children, preferably at birthday parties or other events due to the visual nature of the illusion.
"[5] He realized that the preparation might be beyond the capabilities of many would-be magicians, and directs his readers to "buie for a small value the like booke, at the shop of W. Brome in Powles churchyard", the earliest known example of a magic prop for sale.
[6] A similar description of the blow book was published in French the same year by Jean Prévost.
[7] The blow book is mentioned in Hocus Pocus Junior, the earliest known collection of magic tricks in the English language, published in London in 1635.
Many of the tricks in the book feature the magician or an audience member blowing on the prop; this was a common fixture of the trade.
[6] By the 19th century prices on printed materials had dropped so much that the trick was quite well known, and it was not uncommon for magicians of the period to hand them out after their performances.
[11] The basic concept has never gone out of print for long, and modern examples remain widespread today, along with descriptions on how to make your own.
Modern versions are typically in the form of children's coloring books and remain popular, even appearing on The Wiggles.
Images of one type, black and white for instance, are drawn on every set of facing pages with narrow on the left and wide on the right.