Nova Sagittarius 1974

Line identifications and radial velocities of Nova Sgr 1974 (= V3888 Sgr) determined from spectrograms taken in October and November 1974 in Israel and Australia are presented. The spectra and the fading rate of the light curve indicate that Nova Sgr 1974 was discovered approximately 2 or 3 magnitudes beyond maximum light. Provided the initial phases of evolution of the nova were normal, it may have been as bright as m/sub v/ approximately 6 or 7 at maximum light. Both the measured radial velocities and an upper limit for the outburst amplitude indicate that Nova Sgr 1974 was a fast nova with t3 approximately equal to 10 days. Alternatively, the nova was not typical of other observed Galactic novae