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French court halts auction of Pascal's 17th-century calculating machine
A Paris administrative court has temporarily blocked the export and auction of La Pascaline, a groundbreaking 1642 calculating device invented by French mathematician Blaise Pascal, citing concerns over its status as a potential "national treasure."
Legal intervention delays sale
Christie's auction house confirmed on Wednesday that it would suspend the planned sale of the historic machine, which had been valued at €2-3 million (£1.7-2.6m). The decision follows a court ruling that cast "serious doubts" on the legality of an earlier export authorization issued by France's culture minister in May.
The minister's certificate, endorsed by two experts-including one from the Louvre-had initially permitted the machine's export. However, the court's provisional order now prevents its removal from France until a final judgment is reached.
Scientific and cultural significance
Developed by Pascal at age 19, La Pascaline is considered the world's first functional mechanical calculator. Only nine of these devices survive today. Christie's had described it as "the most important scientific instrument ever offered at auction," emphasizing its role as the "first attempt in history to substitute the human mind with a machine."
The device was part of Christie's auction of the late Catalan collector Léon Parcé's library, which also included Pascal's philosophical work Pensées and the first printed edition of "Pascal's wager."
Heritage advocates applaud ruling
The Association Sites & Monuments, a French heritage group listed as an applicant in the court filing, hailed the decision. The group had argued for the machine's classification under France's heritage code, which would grant it permanent protections.
"Given the provisional nature of this decision and in accordance with the instructions of its client, Christie's is suspending the sale of La Pascaline."
Christie's spokesperson, via AFP
Next steps
The court's final judgment will determine whether the machine remains in France as a protected artifact or proceeds to auction. No timeline for the ruling has been announced.
