Lewis Swift discovered IC 256 = Sw. VIII-2, along with IC 257 and IC 260, on 6 Sep 1888 and recorded "eF; lE; S; in vacancy. 1st of 3." His position is 5 sec of RA west and 0.3' south of IC 257. The galaxy described here is 1' due south of this offset. It's possible, though, it's too faint to have been seen by Swift, but it was detected in my scope (knowing the exact location in advance) and Swift has a few other faint discoveries in the same ballpark. See Corwin's notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/24/87): extremely faint and small, slightly elongated N-S, ~15"x10". Located 26" N of an easier mag 15 star. Requires averted and visible ~50% of the time. Situated 1.6' SW of IC 257 (2nd in V Zw 280, a trio of three compact ellipticals). Identification not certain.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb