Lewis Swift discovered NGC 2881 = Sw. III-44 on 9 Feb 1886 and recorded "eF; pS; preceding a coarse double star 17 sec; in field with 1854 [NGC 2889]." His position is just 5 seconds of RA west of Arp 275 = PGC 26747. In his extensive notes in MN, Herbert Howe stated the two stars mentioned by Swift are south-following, 9.5 & 10.5 mag. Neither Swift or Howe resolved this double system.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/4/92): very faint, small, round, very low even surface brightness. A mag 14.5 star is at the northeast edge 0.7' from center. An easy mag 10/11 double star at 26" separation lies 4.5' ESE.

600/800mm - 24" (2/24/20): at 200x; fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 N-S, low surface brightness but irregular shape. A mag 15 star is at the S end. An extension (interacting companion VV 293b) occasionally bulged out on the NW side, though I wasn't sure if it was detached. IC 2482 lies 17' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb