Truman Safford discovered NGC 6641 = Sf 47 = St V-2 on 9 Aug 1866 and noted "pB, pS, vmbM." Édouard Stephan independently found the galaxy on 20 Aug 1873 and recorded "vF, vS, R, bM." Both positions are accurate. Stephan was credited in the GC Supplement and the NGC as Safford's discovery was published too late.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/1/89): faint, small, oval 4:3 E-W, 0.8'x0.6', even surface brightness. A mag 13.5 star is 1.0' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb