<?xml version="1.0"?>
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        <issuerName>WILEY JOHN &amp; SONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JWA</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerName>PESCE WILLIAM J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JOHN WILEY &amp; SONS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>111 RIVER STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOBOKEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
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    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Josephine Bacchi Attorney in Fact for William J. Pesce</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-07-07
0
0000107140
WILEY JOHN & SONS INC
JWA
0001201959
PESCE WILLIAM J
C/O JOHN WILEY & SONS INC
111 RIVER STREET
HOBOKEN
NJ
07030
1
1
0
0
President & CEO
Class A Common
2005-07-07
4
M
0
16208
7.9063
A
505341
D
Class A Common
2005-07-07
4
M
0
23792
7.5938
A
529133
D
Class A Common
2005-07-07
4
S
0
9200
40.01
D
519933
D
Class A Common
2005-07-08
4
S
0
30800
40.14
D
489133
D
Non-Qualified Option--Right to Buy
7.9063
2005-07-07
4
M
0
16208
7.9063
D
1997-02-12
2006-02-11
Class A Common
16208
0
D
Non-Qualified Option--Right to Buy
7.5938
2005-07-07
4
M
0
23792
7.5938
D
2000-04-30
2006-06-12
Class A Common
23792
39432
D
Josephine Bacchi Attorney in Fact for William J. Pesce
2005-07-11