Historic Auction of Blaise Pascal's First Calculator Suspended: The Battle Over a 17th Century Scientific Treasure

Nov 19, 2025 09:21 pm CST

Christie's suspended the auction of "La Pascaline," one of only nine surviving examples of the world's first calculator invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642, after a Paris court revoked its export authorization. Scientists are fighting to classify this rare mechanical calculating device, valued at 2-3 million euros and considered "the most important scientific instrument ever offered at auction," as a French national treasure.