-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BvUq3z/osG5SoV4cJrjLyeENzye1tg0KmUOJx6V0PR1dArThpGJX60GZZJC0ey7Q
 5oNvepgU5tN52A3uBj/4Yw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001091477-05-000006.txt : 20050310
<SEC-HEADER>0001091477-05-000006.hdr.sgml : 20050310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050310132529
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001091477-05-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050309
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050310
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ERNEST HOREJSI TRUST NO 1B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001091477

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04605
		FILM NUMBER:		05671642

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 SOUTH PHILLIPS AVENUE
		CITY:			SIOUX FALLS
		STATE:			SD
		ZIP:			67402

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 SOUTH PHILLIPS AVENUE
		CITY:			SIOUX FALLS
		STATE:			SD
		ZIP:			67402

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CICIORA SUSAN L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245558

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04605
		FILM NUMBER:		05671640

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1680 38TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			BOULDER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3034422156

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOREJSI STEWART R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246903

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04605
		FILM NUMBER:		05671641

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7858270910

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 SOUTH SANTA FE
		CITY:			SALINA
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			67401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST FINANCIAL FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000790202
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				133341573
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1680 38TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			BOULDER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3034445483

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1680 38TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			BOULDER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80301

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST SAVINGS & BANKING INSTITUTIONS FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860402
</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>2005-03-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790202</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST FINANCIAL FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001091477</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ERNEST HOREJSI TRUST NO 1B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3601 C STREET, STE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ANCHORAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99503</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246903</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOREJSI STEWART R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 SOUTH SANTA FE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALINA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>67401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245558</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CICIORA SUSAN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1680 38TH STREET, STE 800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOULDER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80301</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1766400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Trusts affiliated with the Ernest Trust, including the Lola Brown Trust No. 1B, the Mildred B. Horejsi Trust, the Susan L. Ciciora Trust, and the Stewart R. Horejsi Trust No. 2, own an aggregate of 9,094,800 Shares of the Fund following these transactions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The trustees of the Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B (the &quot;Ernest Trust&quot;) are Badlands Trust Company (&quot;Badlands&quot;), Susan L. Ciciora and Larry Dunlap.  Such trustees may be deemed to control the Ernest Trust and may be deemed to possess indirect beneficial ownership of the Shares held by the Ernest Trust.  However, none of the trustees, acting alone, can vote or exercise dispositive authority over Shares held by the Ernest Trust.  Accordingly, Badlands, Ms. Ciciora and Mr. Dunlap disclaim beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Ernest Trust.  In addition to serving as a trustee, Ms. Ciciora is also a beneficiary of the Ernest Trust.

As a result of his advisory role with the Ernest Trust, Stewart R. Horejsi may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of the Shares directly beneficially owned by the Ernest Trust.  However, Mr. Horejsi disclaims such beneficial ownership of the Shares directly beneficially held by the Ernest Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen C. Miller, President, Badlands Trust Company, LLC, trustee of the Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stewart R. Horejsi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Susan L. Ciciora</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----