-----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,
 MrKg+ccSobsuJruIUL+0QuNtvDm1p7SY9Nu8xMIN/R/nbsjkAWhKJZw6/HT/r8Ws
 mGOFf4njmhl8khGB6reMZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018748-08-000009.txt : 20081121
<SEC-HEADER>0000018748-08-000009.hdr.sgml : 20081121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081121125457
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018748-08-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081119
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081121
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EDGERTON CHARLES N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209976

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-00179
		FILM NUMBER:		081206397

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-698-2020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP
		STREET 2:		630 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 820
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10111

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018748
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				131875970
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		630 FIFTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 820
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-698-2020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		630 FIFTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 820
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10111

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRANS CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700722

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BUERGER LADET & RADINSKY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19671026
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018748</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CET</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209976</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EDGERTON CHARLES N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>630 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 820</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1577</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.6756</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2277</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Marlene A. Krumholz as Attorney-in-Fact for Charles N. Edgerton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----