Max Wolf discovered IC 3869 = W. VI-85, along with several other faint IC galaxies within AGC 1638, on a Heidelberg plate taken 27 Jan 1904. He reported "vF, vS, iF, N."

900/1200mm - 48" (4/2/11): very faint, very small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 0.3'x0.2'. Located 1.8' NNE of IC 3867 in a faint group of IC galaxies within AGC 1638.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb