Court halts Christie’s sale of device scientists call a ‘national treasure’. 1642 Calculator Pulled From Auction in France

A Paris court has put a sudden stop to the planned sale of one of the world’s oldest known calculators, preventing its auction and blocking its export from France. The device—La Pascaline—was created in 1642 by a 19-year-old Blaise Pascal and features intricate ebony inlay. Christie’s had projected it could fetch up to $3.3 million, calling it “the most important scientific instrument ever offered at auction.” Only nine surviving examples of Pascal’s early calculating machines are known.

The halt follows a petition from leading scientists and researchers who urged the government to classify La Pascaline as a national treasure. In an opinion piece published in Le Monde, they described the machine as “the origin of modern computing.” Pascal designed several variations of his calculator, each built for different types of measurements and calculations—including decimals, commercial accounting, taxes, and surveying. The model at the center of the dispute was built for surveyors and uses units such as feet, inches, and fathoms.

Although the court’s ruling is temporary, it raises questions about the validity of an export certificate previously approved by the culture minister and vetted by two experts, including one from the Louvre. Citing the device’s singular historical and scientific significance, the court suggested it may qualify for full protection under France’s heritage laws. Christie’s has removed the calculator from its auction lineup while the legal process continues.

The group of scientists maintains that La Pascaline belongs in a public collection where it can be studied, calling it a symbol of “a unique alliance of history, science, and technology” and a testament to a tradition of learning that “honors France.”