-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000823094-04-000009.txt : 20040209
<SEC-HEADER>0000823094-04-000009.hdr.sgml : 20040209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040209175213
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000823094-04-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040209

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:			BLACK CONRAD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001007527

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09750
		FILM NUMBER:		04579068

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 TORONTO ST
		STREET 2:		TORONTO ONTARIO
		CITY:			CANADA M5C2B7
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4163638721

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 TORONTO ST
		STREET 2:		TORONTO ONTARIO
		CITY:			CANADA M5C 2B7
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			00000
</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>2004-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001007527</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLACK CONRAD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 TORONTO ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TORONTO ONTARIO</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CANADA M5C 2B7</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Limited Voting Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>283</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9064</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>282</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A limited Voting Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>282</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6486</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Quarterly Grant of Stock under Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. 1998 Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">One For One.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The deferred stock units were accrued under the Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. 1998 Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the &quot;Plan) 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>Conrad Black</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----