Press release: the French Academy of Sciences and the Institut de France welcome the suspension of export authorization for a Pascaline

The French Academy of Sciences and the Institut de France welcome the decision of the juge des référés suspending the execution of the export certificate issued by the Minister of Culture for the sale of a Pascaline, one of the eight calculating machines designed by Blaise Pascal between 1642 and 1649 that have been preserved. This decision suspends any possibility of exporting the Pascaline, whose heritage value is considerable. It will eventually be confirmed by the administrative court in a ruling on the merits. In the meantime, the French Academy of Sciences would like the French Ministry of Culture to initiate the procedure for classifying the Pascaline as a national treasure: this would enable public collections and patrons to purchase it under good conditions by keeping it in France.

• Read the court decision: Suspension de l'autorisation-d'exporter-une-machine-a-calculer-inventee-par-blaise-pascal - Tribunal administratif de Paris

Seized by several heritage associations and individuals, members of the scientific community, notably Jean-Michel Bismut, member of the'Académie des sciences, the court found that the conditions for'emergency were met, and that moreover, there was serious doubt as to the legality of the procedure by which export authorization had been granted.

An object potentially qualifying as a national treasure

The judge emphasized that, in view of its exceptional importance, this calculating machine, the only Pascaline designed for surveying, operating with ancient units (toises, feet, inches, lines), was likely to fall into the category of "national treasures" within the meaning of the Heritage Code.

L'instrument represents the'one of the founding innovations of the'history of science and technology : the first known functional calculating machine, it inaugurates the'modern adventure of'computing and testifies to the intellectual breakthrough that places France at the heart of the development of this science.

The suspension, an interim measure pending judgment on the merits, temporarily prohibits any export of the'object.

A major scientific and civic commitment

This judicial success is part of a major collective movement: almost 1,000 signatories, including many members of the five Academies that make up the Institut de France, a Nobel Prize winner, scientists, teachers and heritage players, have supported the petition and the tribune published in Le Monde entitled:
"Blaise Pascal and his Pascaline must remain at the heart of public collections".

• Read the petition: Sauvegarde Pascaline Léon Parcé - Amis et correspondants du Centre International Blaise Pascal

This tribune reminds us that each of the eight known Pascalines, all different in design and use, represents a unique milestone in French intellectual history. The Pascaline up for sale, the last example still in private hands, must be allowed to join our country's public collections in order to be studied, preserved and passed on.

According to the text of the appeal, "The State must take all necessary steps to ensure that this Pascaline joins French public collections on a long-term basis."

"The Pascaline embodies a decisive moment in the history of the French scientific spirit. The Institut de France is delighted that a period of reflection has been re-established to enable the State to examine ways of acquiring it into public collections. It bears witness to the creativity, rigor and vision that underpin Blaise Pascal's intellectual legacy. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that such witnesses to human ingenuity remain accessible to all, and are passed on to future generations ", Xavier Darcos, Chancellor of the Institut de France.

In 2023, to close the year of the 400th anniversary of Blaise Pascal's birth, Canal Académies, the Institut de France's podcast platform, and France Mémoire, the national commemorations mission offered a series of twenty audio interviews, illuminating in a contemporary light the universal genius of the author of Pensées.