William Herschel discovered NGC 1664 = H VIII-59 on 24 Oct 1786 (sweep 622) and called it "a cluster of coarsely scattered pretty large stars, not very rich." His position was pretty accurate.

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/18/85): 40-45 stars, striking, rich, many faint double stars and chains. A long string of stars to the south leads to mag 7.5 SAO 39807 on the SE edge. Appears rich in the center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb