Albert Marth discovered NGC 6263 = m 319 = St II-5 on 28 Jun 1864, along with NGC 6264, 6265, 6269, 6270, and noted "eF, vS, R." His position is accurate. Édouard Stephan independently found this galaxy, along with the other four, on 22 Jul 1871, apparently unaware of Marth's earlier discoveries.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/1/89): very faint, extremely small, round. A mag 13.5 star is just off the south edge 40" from center. Located 2.6' S of a mag 9 star. Second of 8 in the NGC 6269 group with NGC 6264 and NGC 6265 in the field 7.5' ENE and 10.2' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb