William Denning discovered IC 529 around 1890 with his 10-inch reflector . The discovery was apparently communicated directly to Dreyer.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/5/97): moderately bright, fairly large irregular glow, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, ill-defined halo up to ~2.8'x1.4', broad concentration to an ill-defined core. A mag 14 star is just north of the SE end [1.2' from center] and a second mag 13.5-14 star is close NE [1.9' from center]. The outer halo increases with averted vision beyond the star off the SE end.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb