<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000029669</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DONNELLEY R R &amp; SONS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DNY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001024921</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOLF STEPHEN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MONICA FOHRMAN, SEC, RR DONNELLEY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>77 WEST WACKER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F4"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>45.0788</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>45.0788</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4930.9237</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The phantom stock will be settled 100% in cash, payable annually in installments or in a lump sum, after the reporting person ceases to be a director.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The phantom stock will be settled 100% in cash, payable annually in installments or in a lump sum, after the reporting person ceases to be a director.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Common Stock, and rights to purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached thereto.</footnote><footnote id="F4">One share of phantom stock is equal to one share of Common Stock.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Dividend accruing on phantom stock account also credited in phantom stock.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jennifer Reiners, pursuant to Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



