The small circular cast silver box unscrewing to reveal

two hand colored and engraved maps : 

one of the Bishopric of Salzburg,

the other of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania,

and housing

17 detailed circular 'leporello' hand-colored copper engravings.

The box and engravings depict the historic
expulsion of Protestants (mostly Lutherans) from Salzburg, and
their emigration to Prussian Lithuania at the invitation of King Frederick William I.

Each scene numbered (1-17) and with a bannered inscription above,
some inscriptions of a historic nature and some Biblical.

(The individual translations appear below with the detailed images).

The two threaded silver covers are cast to depict

a group of Protestants departing their homeland

and banner-inscribed :

"Gehe aus de mein Vatierland" (Leaving My Fatherland)
and arriving in Prussia :

"Korage Sollen Deine Pfleger Seyn" (The King Shall Be Your Guardian)

* Schraubtaler translates as "threaded coin".

These are also known as Schraubmedialle ("threaded medallion").

Condition : Box : Excellent; apparently unmarked

Engravings : Excellent condition with astoundingly bright colors;
the joining paper tabs reinforced, with some appropriately replaced with museum acid free tissue

It is apparently uncommon to find an example of these boxes with all 17numbered engravings,
especially so beautifully preserved

1.75" Wide x .75" High / 1 oz. total weight

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In 1731, Prince-Archbishop Count Leopold Anton von Firmian

expelled over 20,000 Protestants from their homeland in Salzburg.

Their expulsion triggered protests and criticism throughout the the Protestant world.

In response, King Frederick William I of Prussia offered to resettle the exiled community in his territory -

Prussian Lithuania.

On February 2, 1732, the King issued a 'Patent of Invitation',

declaring the Salzburg Protestants to be Prussian subjects traveling under his protection.

King Frederick William also threatened to retaliate against Catholics living in Prussia

should the Salzburgers were mistreated.

Upon arrival in Prussia, the Salzburgers would be given free land, supplies, and a period of tax exemption.

Between April and August 1732, over 20,000 Protestants left Salzburg for Prussia,

traveling in twenty-six columns of about 800 emigrants each.

Whislt the Salzburg Protestants were assessed an emigration tax of 10% of their belongings,

paid upon departure, they were received by Prussian commissioners, who then supplied them with travel money.

The migration became a spectacle in the Protestant towns of Germany,

whose residents plied the Salzburgers with food and money as they passed through.

Several hundred Salzburgers died in the long trek across Germany.

This exodus was possibily the most momentous event in the 18th century history of Salzburg

(other than the mid-18th century birth of Mozart and his contributions).

In memoriam, at least 300 different books and pamphlets were written about the migration in 1732-1733,

celebrating the faith and perseverance of the Salzburgers.

In the late 18th epic poem 'Hermann and Dorothea',

Goethe adapted a story from the Salzburg migration to the setting of the French Revolution.

This cast silver box, its maps exquisite engravings are among these contemporary tributes.

A Scene Similar to no.16 : "The Lord Has Led Us Here"

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