-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HV4ZF97weWAIsOfVYap4Ge8loegl53pxgkZ5B6tEShIy6UsvwmgPQtzNDybYgnJk
 U4C2SBZxjU4pWbWhdD+/vg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000899140-04-000398.txt : 20040308
<SEC-HEADER>0000899140-04-000398.hdr.sgml : 20040308
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040308165754
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000899140-04-000398
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040308

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INFORMATION HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001063744
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BOOKS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING AND PRINTING [2731]
		IRS NUMBER:				061518007
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2777 SUMMER STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 209
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06905
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2034665055

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2777 SUMMER STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 209
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06905

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAYSON MARTIN D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001100650

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14371
		FILM NUMBER:		04655258

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		750 LEXINGTON AVENUE 27TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5124769095

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 CONGRESS AVENUE STE 2626
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78701
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>payson_ihi4-030804ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001063744</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INFORMATION HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001100650</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAYSON MARTIN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>750 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.07</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">No consideration was paid for the common stock option grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Martin Payson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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