Lewis Swift discovered IC 5261 = Sw. XI-218 on 11 Sep 1896 and wrote "eeeF; pL; R; f[ollows] 9m * 22 seconds; ee dif." His position is 8 seconds of time east and 1.5' south of ESO 603-026 = PGC 69969. His description clinches the identification.. Swift listed the discovery date as 12 September in his first Lowe Observatory discovery list.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/6/97): faint, moderately large, round, 1.5' diameter. Located 5' ENE of mag 9 SAO 191476. This diffuse glow exhibited only a broad very weak concentration. A mag 14.5-15 star is close off the east edge 1.1' from center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb