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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VcmTHtCjV6HS+Q+h6z2UBPe6hMoo6yeMVhm0w9QRLc6J9ybpDzDQ5odrCPyUviPK
 HWswMzaIpCzKaSDZzP6EoQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001494499-10-000002.txt : 20101112
<SEC-HEADER>0001494499-10-000002.hdr.sgml : 20101111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101112090923
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001494499-10-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ramsden Edward
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001494499

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21287
		FILM NUMBER:		101183107

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		2361 ROSECRANS AVE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90254

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000897893
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				953732595
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2361 ROSECRANS AVE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245
		BUSINESS PHONE:		646-319-5020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2361 ROSECRANS AVE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000897893</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001494499</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ramsden Edward</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CABURN MANAGEMENT LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>535 MADISON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</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>2010-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>323672</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote 1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares were sold by funds and accounts for which Caburn Management LP serves as investment manager, with dispositive and, in some cases, voting authority over the shares. Mr. Ramsden may be deemed to control Caburn Management LP and thus may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of such shares. Mr. Ramsden disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Edward Ramsden</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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