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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SH+djYofWJHpAjex4vqbxf7XLBnx0/udIgIgpoweaHbXa92WWzoWVxLPJ0+GCpn0
 +lviLi3pUGKMQfrqt7/uNA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950117-03-004133.txt : 20030919
<SEC-HEADER>0000950117-03-004133.hdr.sgml : 20030919
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030919102323
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950117-03-004133
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030919
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030919

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FERNALD H ALLEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202802

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11507
		FILM NUMBER:		03901997

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN WILEY & SONS INC
		STREET 2:		111 RIVER STREET
		CITY:			HOBOKEN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07030

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILEY JOHN & SONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000107140
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BOOKS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING AND PRINTING [2731]
		IRS NUMBER:				135593032
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		605 THIRD AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10158
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128506000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		605 THIRD AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10158
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rsr_10149.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-09-19</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000107140</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILEY JOHN &amp; SONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JWA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202802</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FERNALD H ALLEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>JOHN WILEY &amp; SONS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>111 RIVER STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOBOKEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class A Common</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>36798</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeHolding>

    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class A Common</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-09-18</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>555</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>27.01</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>37353</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    <nonDerivativeHolding>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class B Common</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>5440</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Annual award issued pursuant to the Amended 1990 Directors' Stock Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOSEPHINE BACCHI ATTORNEY IN FACT FOR H. ALLEN FERNALD</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----