Stephane Javelle discovered IC 871 = J. 2-761, along with IC 873 and 876, on 5 Jun 1893. His micrometric position is accurate.

600/800mm - 24" (5/11/13): first and largest in a trio (KTG 46) with IC 873 5.7' NE and IC 876 10' NE. At 375x appeared fairly faint, elongated 2:1 WSW-ENE, 0.8'x0.4', sharply concentrated with a bright core and diffuse halo. A mag 12 star lies 1.3' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb