-----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,
 WI26uO4RU9cQkN1YZdKd+RDHYONCeKPTQXAYznR7Iz/c9TnMuyeRkpe/HAUXnLf1
 PSzeGA2c/2bCP30q4Gybpg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001342857-10-000026.txt : 20101124
<SEC-HEADER>0001342857-10-000026.hdr.sgml : 20101124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101124133242
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001342857-10-000026
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101124

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000897893
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				953732595
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2361 ROSECRANS AVE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245
		BUSINESS PHONE:		646-319-5020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2361 ROSECRANS AVE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			North Star Investment Management Corp.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001342857
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21287
		FILM NUMBER:		101214349

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 N. WACKER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE # 1416
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		312-580-0900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 N. WACKER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE # 1416
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000897893</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001342857</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>North Star Investment Management Corp.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20 N. WACKER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE # 1416</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options ot acquire common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.02</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-11-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Peerless Systems Corporation Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">(1) Twenty Five Percent (25%) of the shares of such option shall vest and become exercisable on November 11, 2011 (the completion of one year of service measured from the grant date). The balance of the shares subject to such option shall vest and become exercisable in a series of thirty six (36) successive equal monthly installments upon completion of each additional month of service untill all of the options are vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">(2) All options were received in consideration of Mr. Eric C. Kuby's service as a director of Peerless Systems Corporation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter G. Contos II</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----