<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-24</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000045599</issuerCik><issuerName>HARLAND JOHN H CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>jh</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001217132</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SPIKES JESSE J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>77</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>25.96</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7278</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">All shares acquired through Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>John C. Walters, POA for Jesse J. Spikes</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

