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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BZjKh+32/C0UTJ1Zq2tzTRCoFpW16rL0zbvnQlqVucd5JVDllBV8lIBcGWfZQHgs
 beNqGCoZCvTKPSXh2pE60g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000005133-06-000076.txt : 20060713
<SEC-HEADER>0000005133-06-000076.hdr.sgml : 20060713
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060713165802
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000005133-06-000076
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060711
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060713
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060713

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN GREETINGS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000005133
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GREETING CARDS [2771]
		IRS NUMBER:				340065325
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE AMERICAN ROAD
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44144
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2162527300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE AMERICAN ROAD
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44144

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEISS MORRY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000918762
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13859
		FILM NUMBER:		06961093

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE AMERICAN ROAD
		CITY:			CLEVLAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44144
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000005133</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN GREETINGS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>am</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000918762</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEISS MORRY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE AMERICAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44144</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>119095</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.36</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>119095</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See FN</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5119</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">By Profit Sharing 401(K).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Amount includes 5,019 Class A Common shares that were distributed from Deferred Comp. to direct ownership.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Catherine M. Kilbane, Power of Attorney for Morry Weiss</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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