This book is a refinement of the autograph album, allowing the compiler to collect the answers to 40 questions, obtaining in this way up to 38 "mental photographs" or responses to the same questionnaire, each printed over 2 pages and with a space reserved for a small photograph. In this case, about two thirds of the album has been used, and the first entry is dated 1872 (a few pages have had entries or photographs excised, and the front free endpaper has been cut away with loss of any ownership inscriptions). Judging by whatever clues the answers yield, a number of the questionnaires have been completed by Americans. One entry is completed by "Muskoka Bill" who is believed to have had a touring Wild West show of the same type as Buffalo Bill.

Wilde was an Oxford undergraduate at the time he made his entry in 1877. He has written his name in full, and provided answers to 38 of the 40 questions which, full of characteristic verve and hyperbole, have the fascination of being A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN SERIES OF WITTICISMS FROM HIS EARLY LIFE. The questions and answers do in fact achieve their aim, and form a "mental photograph" or short but extremely compelling personal interview with the author. A portrait cut from a newspaper has been laid down in the space provided for a photograph.