Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 3857 = St XIII-63 = Sw. I-13, along with NGC 3859, 3864, 3867 and 3868, on 23 Mar 1884. His position matches CGCG 097-117 = PGC 36548. Lewis Swift rediscovered this galaxy on 13 Apr 1885 and reported it in his first discovery list. Swift's position is 12 sec of RA too far west and 1.5' too far south.

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/25/84): very faint, very small, round. A fairly bright star is 3.5' SE. Appears similar to NGC 3859 5' S.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/12/88): faint, small, slightly elongated SW-NE, bright core, stellar nucleus. Located 3.3' NW of mag 8.1 SAO 99769 and 5.8' SW of NGC 3862 within the galaxy cluster AGC 1367.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb