Geek history: world's first pocket calculator

Boingboing reader fRiT0 says:

The Curta mechanical calculator and its story are featured in the January 2004 issue of Scientific American and a Google search turned up this excellent website with information and pictures regarding this truly incredible device. The Curta is a mechanical calculator that was designed by Curt Herzstark while he was imprisioned in a Nazi concentration camp. It is a facinating instrument and a Curta in good condition is worth $1000+ on ebay.

Link (Thanks Mark Quin, and thanks fRiT0!)