-----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,
 H0patvyu4LinDGMOkoH0Cz2OT7Z0B6yj+ZJ4oeax3tdEHkv+2dvj7lFMfzHnXk+P
 nPLhgbAuBVuZMUypX2GKZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-09-021488.txt : 20091103
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-09-021488.hdr.sgml : 20091103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091103112812
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-09-021488
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEBENEDICTIS NICHOLAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194707

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03560
		FILM NUMBER:		091153371

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GLATFELTER
		STREET 2:		96 SOUTH GEORGE ST STE 420
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLATFELTER P H CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000041719
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPER MILLS [2621]
		IRS NUMBER:				230628360
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		96 S GEORGE ST
		STREET 2:		STE 500
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7172252709

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		96 S GEORGE ST
		STREET 2:		STE 500
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000041719</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLATFELTER P H CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GLT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194707</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEBENEDICTIS NICHOLAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>96 SOUTH GEORGE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, Par Value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1116</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10790</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As part of the Director's compensation, each director receives a retainer of $17,500 semi-annually,  1/3 is paid in cash, and 2/3 in GLT stock. These shares represent the stock portion of this retainer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Suzanne DeMars, attorney in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----