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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950138-04-000027.txt : 20040116
<SEC-HEADER>0000950138-04-000027.hdr.sgml : 20040116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040116161328
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950138-04-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KAHN J ALAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001057414
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12302
		FILM NUMBER:		04529932

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARNES & NOBLE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000890491
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940]
		IRS NUMBER:				061196501
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126333300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>jan16kahn-4_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
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<ownershipDocument>
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    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2004-01-14</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000890491</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARNES &amp; NOBLE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BKS</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001057414</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAHN J ALAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BARNES &amp; NOBLE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>122 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10011</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Pres B&amp;N Publishing Group</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-14</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>81803</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>19.4375</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>82803</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
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      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-14</value>
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         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1297</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>18.72</value>
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         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
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         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>84100</value>
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            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
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      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-14</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>83100</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>34.30</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
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   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>19.4375</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-14</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>81803</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-01-05</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2010-01-04</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>81803</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>68197</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>18.72</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-14</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1297</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-07-24</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2012-07-23</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1297</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>7013</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Of these, options with respect to 50,000 shares vested on January 5, 2002 and the balance vested on January 5, 2003.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ J. Alan Kahn</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2004-01-16</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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