-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BardR3YQjx+/T8KDG9vuOAgBwhB6AAwh5xgzaiEA1d7WAs1NsKiQlQ1k27KyzMMn
 VSFkb/cbwt1XeL1DNlNfUw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000823094-03-000005.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0000823094-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031103135054
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000823094-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031031
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOTHEBYS HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000823094
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				382478409
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 NORTH WOODWARD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			BLOOMFIELD HILLS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2486462400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 NORTH WOODWARD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			BLOOMFIELD HILLS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FISHER MAX M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001012257

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09750
		FILM NUMBER:		03972432

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2700 FISHER BUILDING
		CITY:			DETROIT
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3138718000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2700 FISHER BUILDING
		CITY:			DETROIT
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-31</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000823094</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOTHEBYS HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BID</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001012257</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FISHER MAX M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2700 FISHER BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DETROIT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>565</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Ltd. Voting Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>565</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12430</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by grantor trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">One For One</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The deferred stock units were accrued under the Sotheby's Holdongs, Inc. 1998 Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the &quot;Plan&quot;) as a result of a partial or full deferral election with respect to stock compensation paid under the Plan.  These units will be settled 100% in Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. Class A Limited Voting Common Stock (except that fractional shares, if any, will be settled in cash) after the reporting person's termination of service on the Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. Board.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Max Fisher</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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