A calculating machine built by Blaise Pascal in 1642 cannot be exported from France, the court suspending the export license before the scheduled auction.

A court in Paris decided on Tuesday to temporarily suspend the export license for a Pascaline, a calculating machine built by Blaise Pascal in 1642, which was set to be auctioned by Christie's. This machine, estimated between 2 and 3 million euros, is one of only nine existing, six of which are located in museums in France. Scientists reacted with surprise to the announcement of the auction, initiating legal actions to classify the Pascaline as a national treasure, considering its historical value. The court deemed that the object has the potential to be classified as such, thus prohibiting its exit from the country. The decision is provisional, and a final ruling could take several months. The Pascaline is a unique example, having the ability to perform calculations in various units of measurement.