John Herschel discovered NGC 2216 = h3040 on 23 Jan 1835 and noted it as "vF, pL, R, vglbM, 40"." His position (single sweep) matches ESO 556-017 = PGC 18877.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/20/90): faint, fairly small, oval SW-NE, even surface brightness. A mag 13 star is off the SE end 1.7' from center and a mag 14.5 star is superimposed at the SE end. A group of 20 stars are in the field to the west.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb