-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LAK/tlWrTVqQXaIbPisHAegc1F17srlrQbDs41okTIM5Aov5qIHFQHNQqWkduOun
 vtTPVIeyl00/ppvrWE1k/w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001073416-09-000004.txt : 20090209
<SEC-HEADER>0001073416-09-000004.hdr.sgml : 20090209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090209150344
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001073416-09-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090209
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090209

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FREEMAN GEORGE C III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001133495

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00652
		FILM NUMBER:		09581002

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8043599311

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1501 NORTH HAMILTON STREET
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23230

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000102037
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-FARM PRODUCT RAW MATERIALS [5150]
		IRS NUMBER:				540414210
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1501 NORTH HAMILTON STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 25099
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23230
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8043599311

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 25099
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23260

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNIVERSAL LEAF TOBACCO CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880314
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f4gcf2909_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000102037</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UVV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001133495</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREEMAN GEORGE C III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1501 NORTH HAMILTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23230</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41753</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Terri L. Marks, Power of Attorney for George C. Freeman, III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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