France has temporarily barred the export of a 1642 mechanical calculator made by Blaise Pascal. A Paris court revoked the export license less than 24 hours before Christie’s planned sale, after advocates appealed to keep the instrument in France as a national treasure. The "Pascaline," built when Pascal was 19, is one of nine surviving examples and was praised for allowing calculations “without the need for reasoning.” A final court ruling may take months.
Rare 'Pascaline' Pulled from Christie’s as France Revokes Export License
France has temporarily barred the export of a 1642 mechanical calculator made by Blaise Pascal. A Paris court revoked the export license less than 24 hours before Christie’s planned sale, after advocates appealed to keep the instrument in France as a national treasure. The "Pascaline," built when Pascal was 19, is one of nine surviving examples and was praised for allowing calculations “without the need for reasoning.” A final court ruling may take months.
06:28 AM, 11/21/2025Culture
A Paris court has temporarily halted the export of one of the earliest mechanical calculators — the 1642 "Pascaline" created by Blaise Pascal — removing the device from an imminent Christie’s auction.
The court revoked the export license less than 24 hours before the sale, after heritage advocates appealed to keep the instrument in France as a national treasure. The calculator, estimated to fetch $2–3.5 million, is one of just nine known surviving examples.
Pascal designed the machine at age 19. At a time when slide rules were the common computing aid, his device was groundbreaking: it used interlocking gears and dials to perform arithmetic operations mechanically. Pascal’s sister, Gilberte Périer, described the invention as enabling calculations "without the need for reasoning."
"Without the need for reasoning." — Gilberte Périer, describing Pascal’s device
Why this matters
The Pascaline is a rare surviving example of early mechanical computation and an important piece of scientific and cultural history. Supporters of the export block argue that such artifacts belong on public display in their country of origin, while owners and prospective buyers may see the measure as an obstacle to the international art and antiquities market.
A final judicial decision could take months, leaving the instrument in legal limbo for the time being.