-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LeT/zY3LHRReQUYXi9SM85idRCYac5TDhZKpQrIFbg4VgynaPcIbUwrR5EKhF95h
 pgba9nnb0wiQEqLuY9GQGw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950117-03-004448.txt : 20031017
<SEC-HEADER>0000950117-03-004448.hdr.sgml : 20031017
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031017101614
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950117-03-004448
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031016
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JARVIS JOHN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202808

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11507
		FILM NUMBER:		03944977

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN WILEY & SONS INC
		STREET 2:		111 RIVER STREET
		CITY:			HOBOKEN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07030

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILEY JOHN & SONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000107140
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BOOKS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING AND PRINTING [2731]
		IRS NUMBER:				135593032
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		605 THIRD AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10158
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128506000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		605 THIRD AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10158
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rsr_10236.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-10-16</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000107140</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILEY JOHN &amp; SONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JWA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202808</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JARVIS JOHN</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>Sr. Vice President, Europe</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class A Common</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-10-16</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>6000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>8.625</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>37879</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class A Common</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-10-16</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>4800</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>26.0588</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>33079</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qualified Option Right to Buy</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>8.625</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-10-16</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>6000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>8.625</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1998-06-19</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2007-06-18</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>6000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOSEPHINE BACCHI ATTORNEY IN FACT FOR JOHN JARVIS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----