E.E. Barnard discovered IC 1275, along with IC 1274, on 25 Jun 1892 on a 4-hour plate using the 6-inch Willard lens. His article "Photographic Nebulosities and Groups of Nebulous Stars" in AN 3111 includes a visual sketch (with the Lick 12" refractor) of the field including NGC 6559 to the south. IC 1274 and 1275 are clearly identified (as Nova) on the sketch.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/17/93): at 100x and OIII filter appears as an easy nebulosity surrounding two mag 9 stars and several fainter stars. Located at the east end of the chain of nebulosities described in the NGC 6559 observation.

17.5" (6/20/87): at 88x and UHC filter; fairly faint nebulosity surrounding a pair of mag 8 stars, smaller than nearby IC 1274. Located 16' N of NGC 6559.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb