Summary
A court in Paris stopped the auction of La Pascaline, an early mechanical calculator made by Blaise Pascal, to keep it in France as a possible "national treasure." Christie's planned to auction the device, but scientists and researchers wanted to protect its historical and scientific importance.
Key Facts
- La Pascaline is an early mechanical calculator developed in 1642 by Blaise Pascal.
- A court in Paris blocked its auction to prevent it from leaving France.
- Christie's was set to auction La Pascaline, expecting it could sell for €2 to 3 million.
- The machine is considered one of the most important scientific instruments ever offered at auction.
- Only nine of these calculators exist today.
- The French culture ministry had given initial approval for its export, which the court has now temporarily halted.
- The court sees the device's historical and scientific significance as potentially making it a "national treasure" under French law.
