William Herschel discovered NGC 201 = H III-873 = h43, along with NGC 192 and NGC 196, on 28 Dec 1790 (sweep 988) and recorded "eF, cL. I should not have seen it but for the other two [III-872 = NGC 192 and II-860 = NGC 196]." On 20 Dec 1827 (sweep 113), JH recorded "vF; L; E; 60". The last of 3 on the parallel of the first."

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/8/88): largest in the NGC 192 group = HCG 7. Faint, moderately large, diffuse, even surface brightness, slightly elongated NW-SE. Last of four including NGC 192, NGC 196 and 197.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb