-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HQ1wZmyZZnUiOjVbZ9d8r/AB09oeugpRqj552Vusk1+exUQq++ujk8hNuS9hQaY7
 a8yOHq8pDOTsgmUnvBkBZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001202499-07-000003.txt : 20070716
<SEC-HEADER>0001202499-07-000003.hdr.sgml : 20070716
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070716153103
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001202499-07-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070712
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070716
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070716

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERENS RODNEY B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202499

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-00041
		FILM NUMBER:		07981383

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4845301800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KEYSTONE PROPERTY TRUST
		STREET 2:		200 FOUR FALLS CORP. CENTER SUITE 208
		CITY:			WEST CONSHOHOCKEN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19428

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000040417
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				135098450
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3300
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129168400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3300
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-07-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000040417</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GAM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202499</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERENS RODNEY B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BERENS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE ROCKEFELLER PLAZA - 23RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Rodney B. Berens</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----