-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SHzv+IyjetRI/gw/vCYph/Slw/lTBio+z5oxyYh4R/sJlWCI5gaN8uW2cWDAo1iG
 48iq3cDmsF0Gg52xsHKy9Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001014776-08-000006.txt : 20080414
<SEC-HEADER>0001014776-08-000006.hdr.sgml : 20080414
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080414132815
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001014776-08-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080311
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080414
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080414

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANCROFT FUND LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009521
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				042476994
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		65 MADISON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 550
		CITY:			MORRISTOWN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07960
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(973) 631-1177

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		65 MADISON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 550
		CITY:			MORRISTOWN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07960

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANCROFT CONVERTIBLE FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bizzell Kinchen C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001425903

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-02151
		FILM NUMBER:		08754172

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		973-631-1177

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DAVIS-DINSMORE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
		STREET 2:		65 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 550
		CITY:			MORRISTOWN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07960
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009521</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANCROFT FUND LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BCV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001425903</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bizzell Kinchen C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DAVIS-DINSMORE MANAGEMENT COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>65 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 550</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORRISTOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07960</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gary I. Levine, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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