Lewis Swift discovered NGC 49 = Sw. II-7, along with NGC 48 and 51, on 7 Sep 1885 with the 16" refractor at Warner Observatory. His position was 0.5 minutes of RA too large, though his description "middle one of 3 in line" pins downs the identification. Bigourdan measured an accurate position on 13 Oct 1890 (repeated in the IC 2 Notes) and as well as Barnard (AN 4136). Barnard's sketch of the field was published in AN 4136.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/31/86): fifth of six in the NGC 51 group. Fairly faint, small, almost round, bright core. Second of three NGC galaxies and situated between NGC 48 and 51.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb