  We present and discuss optical, near-infrared and HI measurements of the
galaxy Markarian 1460 at a distance of 19 Mpc in the Ursa Major Cluster. This
low-luminosity (M_B = -14) galaxy is unusual because (i) it is blue (B-R=0.8)
and has the spectrum of an HII galaxy, (ii) it has a light profile that is
smooth and well fit by an r^{1/4} and not an exponential function at all radii
larger than the seeing, and (iii) it has an observed central brightness of
about mu_B = 20 mag arcsec^{-2}, intermediate between those of elliptical
galaxies (on the bright mu_B side) and normal low-luminosity dwarf irregular
(on the low mu_B side) galaxies. No other known galaxy exhibits all these
properties in conjunction. On morphological grounds this galaxy looks like a
normal distant luminous elliptical galaxy, since the fundamental plane tells us
that higher luminosity normal elliptical galaxies tend to have lower
surface-brightnesses. Markarian 1460 has 2 X 10^7 M_sun of HI and a ratio
M(HI)/L_B of 0.2, which is low compared to typical values for star-forming
dwarf galaxies. From the high surface brightness and r^{1/4} profile, we infer
that the baryonic component of Markarian 1460 has become self-gravitating
through dissipative processes. From the colours, radio continuum, HI and
optical emission line properties, yet smooth texture, we infer that Markarian
1460 has had significant star formation as recently as about 1 Gyr ago but not
today.
