Hermann Kobold discovered IC 5305 = K. 2-38, along with IC 5306 and 5307, on 26 Oct 1897 using the 18" Merz refractor at the Strasbourg Observatory. His micrometric position is accurate. He identified this object as Kobold 21 (his 21st discovery) in his 1907 compilation of positions in Strasbourg Annales, Vol. 3, 1907.

In Aug 1880, Andrew Ainslie Common described NGC 7594 as "f[ollowing] 3 stars in a line 90 degrees pointing to another fainter nebula s(outh)." The northern of these "3 stars" appears to be IC 5305!

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/18/95): faint, very small, round, 15" diameter, weak concentration. Located 3.8' NNE of a mag 11.5 star and 1.9' W of NGC 7594. Collinear with two mag 14 stars 45" SSW and 1.4' SSW. IC 5306 lies 3.4' SSE and IC 5307 5.5' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb