-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LQvwIN+Jl8fWvMsC4ivVmSEln9uVyMPsX0CmIV8pMPl9FpQEEtwOjDbuSeGubyuM
 gYb6GL24GxRIDKrwDbN9yA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-016573.txt : 20030812
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-016573.hdr.sgml : 20030812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030812103337
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-016573
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030808
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030812

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAMBACH RICHARD JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001027319
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05842
		FILM NUMBER:		03836225

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ICG COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
		STREET 2:		9605 E. MAROON CIRCLE, P.O. BOX 6742
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80155-6742
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3035725960

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOWNE & CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000013610
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMERCIAL PRINTING [2750]
		IRS NUMBER:				132618477
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		345 HUDSON ST
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129245500
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-08</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000013610</issuerCik><issuerName>BOWNE &amp; CO INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001027319</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BAMBACH RICHARD JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>BOWNE &amp; CO., INC.,</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>345 HUDSON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>10014</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP,  Corp. Control.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></re
portingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, Par Value $.01 per Share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>13.14</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>850</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The nu
mber of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned as of the date reported including the number of deferred stock units credited to the Reporting Person under Company plans, as permitted under applicable SEC rules.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Richard Bambach, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----