William Herschel discovered NGC 4713 = H I-140 = h1444 on 17 Apr 1786 (sweep 553) and recorded "cB, pL, mbM." JH made 4 observations and recorded (sweep 153) "pB; L; lE; 60" l, 50" br; two stars sf; 2' dist."

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/21/90): fairly bright, fairly large, oval 3:2 E-W, weak concentration. A mag 12.5 star is 2.5' SE and a brighter mag 11.5 star 3.2' SSE. Located 11' NE of mag 7.4 SAO 119609.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb