Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 1223 = LM 2-357 (along with NGC 1225 = II-358) in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander McCormick Observatory in 1886, recording "mag 15.0, 0.3' dia, R, gbMN". His position is 45 sec of RA following MCG -01-09-003 = PGC 11742 and the description applies. Bigourdan listed this galaxy as #256, measured an accurate position, and noted "could be NGC 1223 with an error of 40 sec in RA." MCG does not label this galaxy as NGC 1223. RNGC reversed the identifications of NGC 1223 and NGC 1225 and because of this mistake they were switched in the first edition of the Uranometria 2000.0 Atlas.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/7/89): second and brightest of a trio with NGC 1221 8' SSW and NGC 1225 7' E. Faint, small, round, bright core. The identifications of NGC 1223 and NGC 1225 are reversed in the RNGC and U2000.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb