Liechtenstein, dated from the serial number501298 to 1953, plate to the base reads 'System Curt Herzstark Made in Liechtenstein, by Contina Ltd Mauren No 501298, in the original metal can

Condition: cosmetically the calculator is very good with slight wear to the tops of the knurled grip, base foam in the can has not perished and has not stuck to the base of the calculator, mechanically all good and smooth, clearing lever good and firm, case with some scratches and wear.

The Curta Calculator is a unique mechanical calculator, invented by Curt Herzstark in the 1940s. Herzstark, an Austrian engineer, conceived the idea in the 1930s and refined it while he was detained in the Buchenwald concentration camp during World War II. His design was inspired by his desire to create the smallest, most portable calculator possible. Remarkably, Herzstark's work on the calculator was encouraged by camp authorities, who saw its potential utility for the Nazi war effort.

After the war, Herzstark finalized his design, and production began in Liechtenstein in 1948. The Curta became known for its compact, cylindrical shape, which housed a sophisticated set of gears and levers capable of performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Operated by turning a small crank, the Curta was popular among engineers, scientists, and rally car navigators until electronic calculators emerged in the 1970s.