Reverend Thomas Espin discovered IC 1299 on 8 Oct 1893, while searching for double stars. He noted it was "proably a cluster of very faint stars.

600/800mm - 24" (9/16/17): at 200x; at Espin's position is a glowing Milky Way patch with 10-12 stars superimposed. Most of these are 13th mag stars arranged in a loop or semi-ellipse, open on the north end [2.4' across]. The group appears visually to be a random, unimpressive asterism.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb