France Blocks Auction of Historic Pascaline Calculator

France has blocked the auction of one of the world's first calculating machines, the Pascaline, created by the 19-year-old mathematician and thinker Blaise Pascal.

Auction house Christie's confirmed that it will not proceed with the sale of the Pascaline, which was built in 1642. The machine was estimated to be worth 2 to 3 million euros.

Scientists and researchers appealed to the courts, requesting that the machine be classified as a 'national treasure' and an object of cultural heritage.

The Pascaline was included in the auction of the library of Catalan collector Léon Parcé, which also included Pascal's philosophical work 'Pensées' and the first printed edition of 'Pascal's Wager'.

Only nine of these machines still exist.