Albert Marth discovered NGC 6264 = m 320 = Sf 38 = St II-6 on 28 Jun 1864 and noted "eF, vS." Truman Safford rediscovered this galaxy (along with NGC 6265 and 6269) on 11 Jul 1866 at the Dearborn Observatory. Édouard Stephan found it again on 22 Jul 1871, apparently unaware of Marth's earlier discoveries, and measured a very accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/27/95): very faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE, 1.0'x0.5'. Two mag 13.5 and 14.5 stars lie 1' SW and 1' S, respectively. Forms a pair with NGC 6265 2.9' ESE in the NGC 6269 group.

17.5" (7/1/89): very faint, fairly small, elongated SW-NE, very low surface brightness. Two faint stars off the south side; a mag 14 star 1.1' SW and a mag 15 star 1.0' S. Third of eight in the NGC 6269 group with NGC 6265 2.9' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb