<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2007-07-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000107140</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILEY JOHN &amp; SONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JWA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203433</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIEBERMAN BONNIE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>JOHN WILEY &amp; SONS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>111 RIVER STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOBOKEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Higher Education</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-06</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6225</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>48.29</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Josephine Bacchi Attorney in Fact for Bonnie E. Lieberman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-07-06
0
0000107140
WILEY JOHN & SONS INC
JWA
0001203433
LIEBERMAN BONNIE
JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC.
111 RIVER STREET
HOBOKEN
NJ
07030
0
1
0
0
SVP, Higher Education
Class A Common
2007-07-06
4
S
0
6225
48.29
D
116193
D
Josephine Bacchi Attorney in Fact for Bonnie E. Lieberman
2007-07-23