Blaise Pascal’s Revolutionary 1642 Pascaline Calculating Machine to Auction at Christie’s Paris for €2-3 Million
This November, Christie’s Paris will offer one of the most important scientific instruments in history: Blaise Pascal’s original Pascaline calculating machine from 1642.
Estimated at €2-3 million, the machine represents the first successful attempt to mechanise mathematical computation, a breakthrough that permanently changed how humans relate to technology.
The Pascaline, surveying machine: 8 Wheels : 5 of 10, 1 of 6 and 2 of 12,
36 x 12.5 x 6.5 cm, 1642, Brass, wooden box decorated with ebony sticks
Estimate €2,000,000-3,000,000
© Christie’s images Limited 2025
A Revolutionary Moment in Scientific History
Created by Blaise Pascal when he was only 19, the Pascaline marked the beginning of mechanical computation. Built from brass and wood, it substituted mechanical precision for mental arithmetic and opened a new era in mathematics and engineering.
Pascal developed the machine to help his father, Étienne Pascal, President of the Cour des Aides de Normandie, with complex tax and survey calculations.
His sister Gilberte Périer later described the invention in 1712 as a work that “reduced an entirely mental science to a machine and found a way to perform all of its operations with complete certainty, without the need for reasoning.”
Engineering Marvel of the 17th Century
Pascal designed three variations of the machine: one for decimal calculations, one for monetary accounting, and one for surveying. This particular example is the only known model dedicated to survey calculations.
The Pascaline used a system of intricate brass gears housed in a wooden box with ebony decoration, combining advanced engineering with refined craftsmanship.
It could perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with remarkable accuracy for its time.
Extraordinary Rarity and Provenance
Only nine original Pascalines survive worldwide, most in museum collections such as the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris and the IBM collection in Bonn.
The machine at Christie’s is the sole remaining example in private hands. Despite its age of over 380 years, it remains fully functional.
The Bibliothèque Léon Parcé Collection Context
The sale forms part of the Bibliothèque Léon Parcé collection, one of the most complete private assemblies of Pascal-related works.
Highlights include the first copy of Pascal’s Pensées (€200,000-300,000) and writings by figures such as Descartes, Newton, Montaigne, and Anne de France.
Technical Specifications and Aesthetic Excellence
The machine measures 36 × 12.5 × 6.5 cm and features eight wheels with ten numerical positions each.
Its brass mechanism demonstrates Pascal’s mathematical precision, while its wooden case with brass fittings reflects the standards of 17th-century French craftsmanship.
Global Exhibition Programme
Before the auction on 19 November, the Pascaline will be exhibited in Paris, New York, and 1, giving collectors and institutions the chance to view it in person.
Market Context and Legacy
Valued at €2-3 million, the Pascaline is positioned among the rarest scientific instruments ever to reach the market.
For collectors, it represents a piece of history that shaped the modern world. From Pascal’s gears to today’s microprocessors, the line of innovation is direct and clear.
The November Auction Event
The auction will take place at Christie’s Paris, 9 avenue Matignon, with public viewing from 13-18 November.
For those unable to attend, Christie’s will provide comprehensive online access, though the impact of seeing the machine firsthand is unmatched.
This sale is expected to set new benchmarks in the market for scientific instruments and will place one of the most important achievements in human technology into new hands for the next chapter of its history.
