Christie's withdraws rare 'first calculator' after French court halts export
3 days ago
- #historical artifact
- #Blaise Pascal
- #scientific heritage
- La Pascaline, the first functioning calculating machine developed by Blaise Pascal in 1642, was withdrawn from auction by Christie's pending a court ruling on its export status.
- The device, expected to fetch over €2m, is considered a potential 'national treasure' by a Paris court, preventing its export.
- Only eight authentic Pascalines exist, with this one being in private hands since 1942 and described as the first attempt to mechanize mental calculation.
- A group of scientists, including Nobel laureate Giorgio Parisi, argued La Pascaline should remain in France as it represents the origin of modern computing and France's intellectual heritage.
- The culture ministry issued an export certificate last May after standard procedures, but scientists criticized the decision as a neglect of France's scientific heritage.