Paris’ work was published anonymously in 1827 and was a “best seller” all through the rest of his life. On his death-bed in 1856 he was busy revising the proofs of the 8th edition. The first part of the third volume dealt with the Thaumatrope which Paris informed his readers could be obtained “at Mr. William Phillip’s, George Yard, Lombard Street, the publisher.” Paris continued, “We mention this circumstance to guard the reader against those inferior imitations which are vended in the shops of London.” George Cruikshank, 1792–1878, the skilled illustrator, who worked on books of Scott and Dickens, made some of the designs for Paris’ Thaumatrope. Paris introduced the Thaumatrope amid a great number of puns which perhaps were very funny in his day. No sooner had Mr. Seymour put the card in motion than the vicar, in a tone of the greatest surprise, exclaimed, “Magic! Magic! I declare the rat is in the cage!!” “And what is the motto?” asked Louisa. “Why is this rat like an opposition member in the House of Commons, who joins the ministry?” replied Mr. Seymour. “Ha, ha, ha--excellent,” cried the major, as he read the following answer: “because by _turning round_ he gains a snug berth, but ceases to be free.” “Show us another card,” said Tom, eagerly. “Here then is a watch-box; when I turn it round, you will see the watchman comfortably sleeping at his post.” “Very good! It is very surprising,” observed the vicar. “Yes,” observed the major; “and to carry on your political joke, it may be said that, like most worthies who gain a post, by turning round, he sleeps over his duty.” One epigram, accompanying a Thaumatrope card, had a reference to the recent activities of Napoleon: Head, legs and arms, alone appear; Observe that nobody is here: Napoleon-like I undertake Of nobody a king to make. Paris, as inventor of the Thaumatrope, could not avoid the temptation to have a little speech from the anonymous inventor, himself: “The inventor confidently anticipates the favour and patronage of an enlightened and liberal public, on the well-grounded assurance that ‘one good turn deserves another’; and he trusts that his discovery may afford the happy means of giving activity to wit that has been long stationary; of revolutionizing the present system of standing jokes, and of putting into rapid circulation the most appreciated _bon mots_.” The Thaumatrope was advertised in the following way: The Thaumatrope being Rounds of Amusement or How to Please and Surprise by turns.