-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 IeWBhdlV+YCrRjBkHa49+mIVGSlJCiRMNg/n75XqOxfQkIFtuA6pZX2bmHtLTYgQ
 hsHw5ZwaRLFgjMOKLDTBmQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-011462.txt : 20030624
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-011462.hdr.sgml : 20030624
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030624105927
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-011462
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030624

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMAS BIDE L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198894

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04694
		FILM NUMBER:		03754346

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RR DONNELLY
		STREET 2:		77 WEST WACKER DRIVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DONNELLEY R R & SONS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000029669
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMERCIAL PRINTING [2750]
		IRS NUMBER:				361004130
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		77 W WACKER DR
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3123268000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		77 W WACKER DRIVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd11593.xml
<DESCRIPTION>JUNE FORM 4 -- THOMAS
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-22</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000029669</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DONNELLEY R R &amp; SONS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DNY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198894</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMAS BIDE L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-22</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>374</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>6779</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-22</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>645</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>6779</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Common Stock, and rights to purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached thereto.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Original grant of shares was made in error on 1/2/2003. Transaction was rescinded on 5/22/2003.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Original grant of shares was made in error on 4/2/2003. Transaction was rescinded on 5/22/2003.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Jennifer Reiners, pursuant to Power of Attorney</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-06-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


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