Edward Swift, Lewis' 19 year-old son, discovered IC 1251 = Sw. X-43 on 18 Sep 1890 and recorded "eeeF; pS; R; 6340 nr; sp of 2 [with IC 1254]; ee dif." The Swifts' RA is 6 sec too large and the orientation should by north-preceding and south-following.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/16/93): faint, fairly small, slightly elongated 4:3 ~E-W, fairly low almost even surface brightness. Located in a string of stars that ends at the double star adjacent to NGC 6340 6' SSE. IC 1254 lies 6' E.

17.5" (7/9/88): very faint, small, elongated WSW-ENE, weak concentration. Located 6' NNW of NGC 6340 in a group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb