"One of only nine surviving examples of a calculator built by 17th-century French mathematician and inventor Blaise Pascal, the instrument was to be auctioned this afternoon. But French scientists and researchers argued that it was a national treasure, prompting the court-ordered export ban. An export certificate had been issued in May for the lot; the new ban would have prevented any purchaser from taking it out of France."
"The sale, part of an auction of the holdings of late book and manuscript collector Léon Parcé (1894-1979), was suspended at the request of the present owner until a final decision is made regarding the object's classification. It was expected to bring between $2.3 million and $3.5 million. The calculator is made of brass and wood with ebony embellishments. It is thought to be the sole example of Pascal's invention still privately owned-seven of the others are in museum collections, one is owned by IBM."
Christie's suspended the auction of one of nine surviving calculators built by 17th-century mathematician Blaise Pascal after a court-ordered export ban prevented its removal from France. French scientists and researchers argued the instrument should be classified as a national treasure, prompting the ban despite an export certificate issued in May. The lot belonged to the holdings of late collector Léon Parcé and was withdrawn at the owner's request pending a final classification decision. The brass-and-wood Pascaline with ebony embellishments is believed to be the sole privately owned example of Pascal's distance-calculating model. The piece was estimated to fetch $2.3–$3.5 million.
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