John Herschel discovered NGC 712 = h163 in October 1828 (sweep 188 between 11 and 27 Oct) and logged "vF; R; among several pB stars." His position and description matches UGC 1352 = PGC 6988

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/24/87): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated WSW-ENE, even concentration, small bright core. A mag 14 star is close SW 0.6' from center and a mag 12 star is 1' N. UGC 1353 lies 9' NNE. Member of AGC 262.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb