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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950138-05-000860.txt : 20050824
<SEC-HEADER>0000950138-05-000860.hdr.sgml : 20050824
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050824182219
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950138-05-000860
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050823
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050824
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050824

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIGGIO LEONARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000927587

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12302
		FILM NUMBER:		051046921

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 FIFTH AVE
		STREET 2:		C/O BARNES & NOBLE INC
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126333300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		122 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>aug24lriggio_4-1ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>BN\2005\AUG FORM 4S\AUG 24 L RIGGIO 4-1
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000890491</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARNES &amp; NOBLE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BKS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000927587</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RIGGIO LEONARD</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-23</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.43</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>550</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.44</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-23</value>
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                    <value>3150</value>
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                <transactionShares>
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                    <value>36.81</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>12696478</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-23</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.82</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12697178</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.83</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12699328</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-23</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of these shares (i) 3,116,684 shares are owned indirectly through Barnes &amp; Noble College Booksellers, Inc., a New York
 corporation of which all of the currently outstanding voting securities are owned by the Reporting Person, and (ii) 712,473
 shares are owned indirectly in a rabbi trust established by the Issuer for the benefit of the Reporting Person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Leonard Riggio</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----