-----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,
 K2FOvhrZJrNh+96n7iGGVGZx1+TX6BEihNU030liSOURNVnDVuwIPmZv+ml1LsZp
 GKn7/9W69RoFJ0SOUCYiSw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001099343-03-000065.txt : 20030821
<SEC-HEADER>0001099343-03-000065.hdr.sgml : 20030821
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030821120103
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001099343-03-000065
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030819
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030821

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04605
		FILM NUMBER:		03859460

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

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:		GATEWAY ENTER THREE 100 MULBERRY ST
		CITY:			NEWARK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07102-4077
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2013677530

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GATEWAY CENTER THREE 100 MULBERRY STREET
		CITY:			NEWARK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07102-4077

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST SAVINGS & BANKING INSTITUTIONS FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860402
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-19</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245558</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CICIORA SUSAN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1795100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Self as Trustee of the Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2568200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Self as Trustee of the Lola Brown Trust No. 1B</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The trustees of the Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B (&quot;the Trust&quot;) are Badlands Trust Company (&quot;Badlands&quot;), Susan L. Ciciora and Larry Dunlap.  Such trustees may be deemed to control the Trust and may be deemed to possess indirect beneficial ownership of the Shares held by the Trust.  However, none of the trustees, acting alone, can vote or exercise dispositive authority over Shares held by the Trust.  Accordingly, Badlands, Ms. Ciciora and Mr. Dunlap disclaim beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The trustees of the Lola Brown Trust No. 1B (the &quot;Brown Trust&quot;) are Badlands Trust Company (&quot;Badlands&quot;), Susan L. Ciciora and Larry Dunlap.  Such trustees may be deemed to control the Brown Trust and may be deemed to possess indirect beneficial ownership of the Shares held by the Brown Trust.  However, none of the trustees, acting alone, can vote or exercise dispositive authority over Shares held by the Brown Trust.  Accordingly, Badlands, Ms. Ciciora and Mr. Dunlap disclaim beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Brown Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Susan L. Ciciora</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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