BeppoSAX observations of 3C 273

We present preliminary results of BeppoSAX AO1 Core Program observations of 3C 273 performed in January 1997. The source was observed 4 times, from January 13th to January 23nd, with typical on-source time for the LEGS and MECS of similar or equal to 12 and similar or equal to 25 ksec respectively, and of similar or equal to II ksec for the PDS. We also present a close comparison with data obtained during the satellite SVP, in July 1996. On average, the AO1 flux is about a factor similar to 1.8 higher than the flux detected during the SVP, and roughly on the middle of the historical X-ray flux range. Power law fits with galactic absorption to all observations yield spectral indices in the range Gamma = 1.53 - 1.6, with the spectrum extending from 0.2 to at least up to 200 keV without any significant slope change. The broad band spectrum appears basically featureless, marking a clear difference from the SVP data, where an absorption feature at low energy and a fluorescence iron emission line are present. The lack of cold/warm matter signatures in our data may indicate that, at this "high" level of luminosity, the featureless continuum produced in a relativistic jet overwhelms any thermal and/or reprocessing component, while the two components were at least comparable during the "low" state of July 1996.