2MASX J07514938-1923331 , the SIMBAD biblio

As an introduction to a series of papers on galaxies identified in the "zone of avoidance" (ZOA) of the Milky Way we present a compilation of hopefully all published galaxies and quasars that were ever optically identified within |b|≤5deg. We present 2304 objects and list (and discuss), in addition to their (often considerably improved) coordinates, the best available morphological type, optical maximum diameters in the red, up-to-date heliocentric radial velocities, reference to the papers where a specific object was first optically identified, and results of cross-checks with the IRAS point source catalogue. This compilation may serve as a presentation of the "state of affairs" in optical identifications of extragalactic objects behind the plane of the Galaxy, up to end 1993.