-----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,
 DUtG+vV30zwxqonn/8oT8Qg9fRC+JMWWD7VpBIeSzyHzAqwWgYS4k4re4HonBFQn
 m7+Wg77Kpk9/iTvM2wzn1w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001185838-04-000007.txt : 20040511
<SEC-HEADER>0001185838-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20040511
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040511141113
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001185838-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040510
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040511

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROYCE VALUE TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000804116
		IRS NUMBER:				133356097
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1414 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 9TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123557311

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1414 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROYCE CHARLES M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001009121
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04875
		FILM NUMBER:		04795901

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ROYCE & ASSOCIATES, LLC
		STREET 2:		1414 AVE OF THE AMERICAS
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2124861445

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ROYCE & ASSOCIATES, LLC
		STREET 2:		1414 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
</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>2004-05-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000804116</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROYCE VALUE TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RVT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001009121</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROYCE CHARLES M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ROYCE &amp; ASSOCIATES, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1414 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Pres./Dir. Investment Adviser</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.2652</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>137526</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>173835</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Family investment entity</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares held in a family investment entity of which the reporting person is the sole managing member and in which the reporting person has a substantial pecuniary interest (which may vary from time to time).  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of that portion of such 173,835 shares owned by the family investment entity in which he has no pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dani Eng, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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