William Herschel discovered NGC 2719 = H III-540 = h541 on 28 Mar 1786 (sweep 549) and recorded "vF, S, lE, seems to contain 2 vF stars." His position is 11 seconds of RA too far west, but the description is accurate. On a second sweep he apparently added "E 20 degrees np-sf." and this implies the south-following star is certainly NGC 2719A. John Herschel made a single observation (interrupted by clouds) on 11 Mar 1831 (sweep 331).

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/20/93): faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 NW-SE. Forms a double system with NGC 2719A, which appears as a small knot at the south end, just 26" between centers. NGC 2724 lies 10' ENE.

600/800mm - 24" (2/24/20): at 260x; fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, 30"x12". NGC 2719 is nearly attached (barely resolved) just south of the SE end. It appeared as a very faint, small knot with a low surface brightness, 12"-15" diameter.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb