Lewis Swift discovered NGC 4640 = Sw. VI-47, along with NGC 4641, on 17 Apr 1887 and recorded "eF; pL; lE; * nr p; np of 2 [with NGC 4641]." His position is just 30" south of UGC 7888, although the nearest star he might have picked up is 1.5' due south (a brighter one is 3.4' southwest).

400/500mm - 18" (4/29/06): very faint, moderately large, elongated ~3:2 ~E-W, 0.9'x0.6', low even surface brightness. Located 3.4' NE of a mag 10.5-11 star. NGC 4641 lies 14' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb