Ormond Stone discovered NGC 1640 = LM 1-136 on 11 Dec 1885 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory and noted "mag 14.0, 0.4' dia, E 40?." His rough position (nearest min of RA) is 1.5 tmin west of ESO 551-027 (typical error), but his noted "E 40?" secures the identificiation. Stone later measured an accurate micrometric position with the 26". Steinicke states this galaxy is the brightest galaxy discovered at Leander McCormick Observatory.

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/18/85): fairly faint, elongated WSW-ENE, bright core, faint stellar nucleus. Forms an equilateral triangle with two mag 11.5 stars 2.0' SSE and 2.0' WSW of center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb