Die zehn Egyptische Plagen / Les Dix Plaies d'Egypte (The Ten Plagues of Egypt) Balthasar Friedrich Leizelt, Augsburg: l'Académie Impériale d'Empire des Arts Libéreaux [ca. 1760]

10 hand-colored plates (16 1/2 x 12 1/4 in.; 420 x 313 mm). Modern half calf over spotted paper, covered portfolio. Ten loose engravings mounted on cardboard, a few with top trimmed in the top heading partly lacking the reference of the Bible verse, Moderate age-toning, and minor and sporadic closed tears or tiny chipping along edges. Upper left corner of third plate slightly chipped (not affecting engraving). Captions in German and French. Housed in a modern half calf over spotted paper covered portfolio, calf slightly rubbed along upper front joint. Raised bands.

This complete set of ten striking hand-colored copperplate engravings by German artist Balthasar Friedrich Leizelt, depicting the ten plagues of Egypt is rendered in exquisite detail. Leizelt dramatically depicts the series of calamities which befell the Egyptians because of the refusal of their leader Pharaoh, to release the Children of Israel from bondage in the Land of Egypt. Each engraving is captioned in German and French at lower margin with the relevant biblical verse[s] from the Book of Exodus, chapters 7-11. 

1) The Nile is turned to blood; 2) Swarms of frogs; 3) Men and animals covered with lice; 4) Swarms of flies and other insects 5) Livestock disease  6) Boils and skin diseases  7) Thunderstorm of hail and fire  8) Swarms of locusts  9) Darkness over Egypt 10) Death of Egypt’s first-born sons.

Balthasar Friedrich Leizelt (1727-1802) was a German artist and copperplate engraver working in Augsburg. Leizelt is best known for having produced a series of European and American scenic views, known as Vue d'optiques, at a time when pictures of foreign countries and people were popular and designed for use in optical viewers.