-----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,
 PB1T2XJIdFUBSaTKmg+9Dl6w2OE9EYk3OEdjZN6W2jg6+zIXECOSQtdKb0i9pE7p
 oMHFosWpX/jV6bwuf6qL4w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000030419-04-000077.txt : 20040730
<SEC-HEADER>0000030419-04-000077.hdr.sgml : 20040730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040730160713
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000030419-04-000077
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040730
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040730

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SWANSON DAVID C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001221208

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07155
		FILM NUMBER:		04942488

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		R H DONNELLEY
		STREET 2:		ONE MANHATTANVILLE ROAD
		CITY:			PURCHASE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10577
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9149336769

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			R H DONNELLEY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000030419
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-ADVERTISING [7310]
		IRS NUMBER:				132740040
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 WINSTEAD DRIVE
		CITY:			CARY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27513
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9198046000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 WINSTEAD DRIVE
		CITY:			CARY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27513

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DUN & BRADSTREET CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DUN & BRADSTREET COMPANIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19790429
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000030419</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>R H DONNELLEY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RHD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221208</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SWANSON DAVID C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1001 WINSTEAD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27513</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.58</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>288462</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-07-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>288462</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>288462</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These stock appreciation rights have been granted under the 2001 Stock Award and Incentive Plan and will become 100% vested on the fifth anniversary of the grant date.  However, if R. H. Donnelley meets its revenue and EBITDA growth targets under the annual and cumulative three-year business plan (&quot;the Plan&quot;), vesting will be accelerated to 33.3% commencing on the one-year anniversary of the grant date.  If the Plan is not met at the first anniversary, there is a one time catch-up opportunity at the second anniversary in which 66.6% becomes vested based on cumulative three-year results compared to the Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David C Swanson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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