John Herschel discovered NGC 4869 = h1501 on 13 Apr 1831 and noted "The second of 5, south of * 7m." Although only a very rough polar distance was given, his sketch (emailed by Steinicke) verifies h1501 = CGCG 160-225 = PGC 44587. This is the second of the five brightest galaxies in the core of the cluster (with NGC 4864, NGC 4874, NGC 4889 and NGC 4898). The first observation under h1501 on sweep 64 and 65 probably applies to NGC 4874.

Heinrich d'Arrest measured the position of NGC 4869 accurately on 6 nights, first recording it on 10 May 1863. He questioned if this object was equivalent to H. II-388 = h1501, but H. II-388 more likely applies to NGC 4864.

300/350mm - 13.1" (5/14/83): faint, small, round. A mag 13 star is attached at the NW edge. Located 5' SW NGC 4874 in AGC 1656.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/21/90): faint, small, round, weak concentration. A mag 14 star is attached at the NW edge 16" from the center and a mag 12 star is 2.0' NNE. Located in the core of AGC 1656 4.0' SW of NGC 4874 with a number of galaxies near including NGC 4875 3' ESE, IC 3973 3' SE and NGC 4872 3.2' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb