Christie’s has suspended the auction of La Pascaline, one of nine surviving calculating machines built by Blaise Pascal in 1642, after a Paris court provisionally revoked its export authorization. The ebony instrument—believed to be the only example in private hands—had been valued at €2–3 million and was part of the late collector Leon Parce’s library sale. Scientists have petitioned to classify the device as a national treasure; a final court decision could take several months.
Christie’s Suspends Sale of Blaise Pascal’s 'La Pascaline' After Paris Court Freezes Export
Christie’s has suspended the auction of La Pascaline, one of nine surviving calculating machines built by Blaise Pascal in 1642, after a Paris court provisionally revoked its export authorization. The ebony instrument—believed to be the only example in private hands—had been valued at €2–3 million and was part of the late collector Leon Parce’s library sale. Scientists have petitioned to classify the device as a national treasure; a final court decision could take several months.
08:14 PM, 11/19/2025Culture
Christie’s has suspended the planned Paris auction of La Pascaline, one of the world’s earliest calculating machines, after a Paris administrative court provisionally revoked the export authorization that would have allowed a buyer to take the piece out of France.
The ebony-decorated instrument, built by Blaise Pascal in 1642 when he was 19, is one of only nine known survivors and is believed to be the only example in private hands. The lot was estimated to fetch between €2 million and €3 million and was included in a sale of items from the library of the late collector Leon Parce.
Christie’s said it halted the sale following instructions from the owner after the court issued a provisional suspension of the export licence. The auction house described the device as an early attempt to mechanise mental calculation and a milestone in the history of scientific instruments.
"Pending the final judgment, 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."
Why the export was blocked
A coalition of scientists and researchers petitioned the administrative court to block the machine’s export and to have La Pascaline classified as a national treasure, arguing for its cultural and scientific importance. The provisional ruling prevents the instrument from leaving France while the court considers the request.
The culture ministry said an export certificate had been issued in May after standard procedures and that two experts—one from the National Centre of Arts and Crafts (CNAM) and another from the Louvre Museum—had supported the initial decision to allow export. The court’s final ruling could take several months.
Historical note
Blaise Pascal designed his calculating machines to help his father, who managed tax collection in northern France. These devices represented one of the first successful efforts to transfer calculation from human effort to mechanical processes, a key step in the development of computing instruments.
For now, the fate of this rare piece of scientific history remains undecided pending the administrative court’s final judgment.