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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NPZKP5789vp8aXtaK5sWKMT2A6LS0+Nf358iVm78eS1qemAfBrXN+JWf6h4ynBv0
 3SCch7CFS50++7b6BEn8oA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000020639-08-000017.txt : 20081016
<SEC-HEADER>0000020639-08-000017.hdr.sgml : 20081016
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081016155345
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000020639-08-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081015
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081016
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081016

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMBASE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000020639
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATORS OF NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS [6512]
		IRS NUMBER:				952962743
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 PUTNAM GREEN
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2035322000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 PUTNAM GREEN
		STREET 2:		3RD FLOOR
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HOME GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890608

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CITYHOME CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19780917

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIANCO RICHARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000904660

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07265
		FILM NUMBER:		081127420

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AMBASE CORP
		STREET 2:		100 PUTNAM GREEN 3RD FL
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830-6027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2035322000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AMBASE CORP
		STREET 2:		100 PUTNAM GREER 3RD FL
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830-6027
</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>2008-10-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000020639</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMBASE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABCP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000904660</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BIANCO RICHARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMBASE CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 PUTNAM GREER 3RD FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830-6027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16861531</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard A. Bianco</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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