Samuel Hunter discovered NGC 1699 = Sw. VI-21 on 13 Feb 1860 with LdR's 72? (too late for inclusion in LdR?s 1861 publication) while observing the field of NGC 1700. He noted "a smaller one nf, scarcely perceptible in finder and vF, above a F *." NGC 1699 is Hunter?s only deep sky discovery while an observing assistant at Birr Castle. Lewis Swift independently found this galaxy on 22 Dec 1886 and reported it as new in list VI-21. Dreyer credited both observers in the NGC.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/23/89): very faint, small, slightly elongated N-S, even surface brightness. Located just 4' ENE of mag 7.8 SAO 131619 and bracketed by two mag 13 stars 1.8' SW and 1.1' NE of center. Forms a pair with brighter NGC 1700 6.7' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb