Lord Lytton Alice Eugene Aram Falkland Zicci c1881-1886 Revised Edition
 
Title & Bibliographic Details
Title: Alice; Eugene Aram; Falkland and Zicci 
Note: Falkland and Zicci are separate novels but are issued beneath a single shared title page in this edition.
Author: The Right Honourable Lord Lytton (Edward Bulwer-Lytton)
Edition: Author's Revised Edition
Publisher: George Routledge and Sons
Place of Publication: Broadway, Ludgate Hill, London
Date: Undated, published circa 1881-1886
Printers:
J. S. Virtue & Co. Ltd., City Road, London (Eugene Aram) 
Charles Dickens and Evans, Crystal Palace Press (Falkland and Zicci) 
 
Historical & Bibliographical Context
This substantial Victorian omnibus brings together four complete novels by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in George Routledge & Sons' Author's Revised Edition. Combining multiple works within a single volume made classic literature accessible to Victorian readers while retaining handsome publisher's bindings suitable for both the private library and lending collections.
The volume contains:
Alice; or, The Mysteries 
Eugene Aram 
Falkland 
Zicci 
Although Falkland and Zicci are separate novels, they are presented together beneath a single shared title page in this Routledge edition.
Although undated, the publisher's London and New York addresses provide valuable bibliographical evidence. The references to 9 Lafayette Place and 416 Broome Street in New York, together with the Broadway, Ludgate Hill London address, indicate publication circa 1881-1886. It was common for Routledge to use stereotype plates prepared at different dates, explaining the differing New York addresses within the same volume.
 
About the Author
Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873), later 1st Baron Lytton, was one of the most influential and widely read Victorian novelists. Best remembered today for works including The Last Days of Pompeii, The Caxtons and The Coming Race, he combined historical fiction, gothic romance, social commentary and occult themes with remarkable popularity throughout the nineteenth century.
 
Binding & Exterior
Bound in dark grained cloth with blind-stamped borders to both boards, an attractively decorated gilt spine with gilt panel tooling, and all edges sprinkled.
The binding remains robust and retains excellent shelf presence. Wear is commensurate with age and includes:
very soft bumping to the corners 
very small splits at the head and tail of the spine 
a couple of small spine splits 
small marks and light cosmetic wear 
Overall, the binding presents very well for a Victorian volume of this period.
 
Interior Condition
The pages are lightly tanned throughout with occasional small marks and light creases that do not affect readability. A very small mark on page 97 of Zicci partially obscures the letter "e" in the word "once."
Additional wear includes:
occasional very small edge tears 
small tear to the inner margin of page 21 and its facing page in Eugene Aram 
small tears to the inner margin of the rear pastedown 
The binding remains secure, with only:
a light gutter crack between the front pastedown and front free endpaper 
an extremely light gutter crack between pages 144 and 145 of Eugene Aram 
All pages have been checked and are present.
 
Provenance
This copy retains several interesting ownership and bookselling marks.
A small bookseller's label is pasted to the front pastedown:
Excelsior Stationery Stores
W. H. Reynolds
Printer and Bookbinder
Buntingford, Hertfordshire
This local bookseller's ticket adds period interest and reflects the book's Victorian retail history.
Ink ownership stamps reading "W. Bracey" appear at the beginning of each novel. While the owner has not been securely identified, these contemporary marks form part of the book's history.
Remnants of pencil annotations remain on the front free endpaper and title pages.
 
Physical Details
154 pages (Alice) 
160 pages (Eugene Aram) 
127 pages (Falkland and Zicci) 
Approx. 21.5 × 14.3 × 2.6 cm 
Approx. 484 g