E.E. Barnard found IC 1985 on a plate taken 6 Dec 1893 at Lick Observatory. The IC position matches the brightest star in the IC 348 cluster. So, IC 1985 = IC 348.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/16/95): IC 348 is an unusual object consisting of a scattered group of stars with associated nebulosity situated near a large dark cloud virtually devoid of stars. The cluster consists of 15 stars of varying magnitudes in a 6' group located 5'-10' S of Omicron = 38 Persei (V = 3.8). The brightest star in the group is mag 8.4 SAO 56680, which has two nearby companions and the group is clearly encased in a fairly bright reflection nebula, ~3' diameter. The star at the southwest end of the cluster is a nice close evenly matched double (∑437 = 9.8/10 at 11"). The immediate 50' low power field to the south is strangely devoid of almost all stars! (Barnard 3 and 4). Omicron also has a halo but this appears to be scattered light.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb