William Herschel discovered NGC 1321 = H III-196 = h297 = h2531, along with NGC 1320, on 20 Sep 1784 (sweep 280) and wrote, "Two. Both eF, verified with 240 power but just suspected with 157 power." John Herschel on observed this pair both from Slough on 16 Oct 1827 (sweep 96), as well as the Cape of Good Hope on 5 Oct 1831 (sweep 739) .

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/25/87): fairly faint, small, elongated ~E-W, bright core. Appears slightly smaller but higher surface brightness than NGC 1320 1.7' S. Second of four in the field.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb