Stephane Javelle discovered IC 18 = J. 1-11, along with IC 19, on 31 Aug 1892. He noted "pF, S, irr, gbM" and measured an accurate position.

600/800mm - 24" (9/15/12): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 30"x15", low surface brightness. Fainter of a pair (Arp 100) with IC 19 3.4' SSE. The long, narrow tidal plume extending to the NNE was not seen.

900/1200mm - 48" (10/25/14): at 488x; moderately bright, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 30"x20", weak concentration with an overall fairly low surface brightness. A mag 16.5 star is adjacent to the center of the galaxy at the east edge.

The northern tidal tail was visible as a very faint, narrow extension, ~1' long, to the north-northeast (PA 30°). The spike stretched roughly twice the length of the galaxy and was slightly brighter or easier to view near where it emerged on the north side of the galaxy. The tidal plume to the south (not a bridge but extends in the general direction of IC 19) was not seen.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb