Édouard Stephan found NGC 7260 = St VIII-13 on 22 Sep 1876 and measured an accurate position. Albert Marth discovered this galaxy on 1 Oct 1864, but his position for m 473 = NGC 7257 was poor (see that number) and Dreyer included both positions in the NGC. But NGC 7260 = NGC 7257.

Lewis Swift also found this galaxy on 1 Sep 1886 and reported the discovery in his 4th list (#83). His description "vF; pL; R; 4 stars near sf point to it" clinches this identification. He later noted the equivalence with GC 6040 (later NGC 7260) in the errata comments ti his 6th discovery list.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/5/91): fairly faint, fairly small round halo although it noticeably increases in size with averted vision. Weak broad concentration, edges fade into background.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb