<?xml version="1.0"?>
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    <issuer>
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        <issuerName>WILEY JOHN &amp; SONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>jwa</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001203433</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIEBERMAN BONNIE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP, Higher Education</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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            </transactionAmounts>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Josephine Bacchi for Bonnie Lieberman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-12-29
0
0000107140
WILEY JOHN & SONS INC
jwa
0001203433
LIEBERMAN BONNIE
0
1
0
0
Sr. VP, Higher Education
Class A Common
2005-12-28
4
M
0
3000
7.5938
A
95934
D
Class A Common
2005-12-28
4
M
0
16000
7.4375
A
111934
D
Class A Common
2005-12-28
4
S
0
5700
38.8157
D
106234
D
Class A Common
2005-12-29
4
S
0
13300
38.8025
D
92934
D
Non-Qualified Option
7.5938
2005-12-28
4
M
0
3000
7.5938
D
1997-06-13
2006-06-12
Class A Common
3000
0
D
Non-Qualified Option
7.4375
2005-12-28
4
M
0
16000
7.4375
D
1997-09-18
2006-09-17
Class A Common
16000
0
D
Josephine Bacchi for Bonnie Lieberman
2005-12-29