GRB 971227 optical observations: #017 Paul Groot, Titus Galama (Univeristy of Amsterdam), Jan van Paradijs (UoA and University of Alabama in Hunstville), Chryssa Kouveliotou (USRA at NASA/MSFC), Nic Walton, (ING La Palma), Penny Sackett (Groningen), Arlin Crotts (Columbia University, NY), Simone Bianchi and Jonathan Davies (Cardiff, UK) report: "Visual comparison of optical R-band observations made on December 28.237 UT (1800s) and December 29.108 UT (900s) with the 2.5m Isaac Newton Telescope at La Palma of the inner 12'x12' region of the SAX WFC errorbox of GRB971227 shows no obvious varying object. Preliminary photometry shows that this corresponds to an upper limit on variability of 0.3 mags down to a limiting magnitude of R=22.8" This message is citeable.