Max Wolf discovered IC 3871 = W. VI-87, along with several other faint IC galaxies within AGC 1638, on a Heidelberg plate taken 27 Jan 1904. He reported "vF, vS, R, bM."

900/1200mm - 48" (4/2/11): faint, very small, round, 9" diameter. Located 1.6' SE of IC 3867 in a 5' group of 6 IC galaxies at the west side of AGC 1638

Notes by Steve Gottlieb