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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QFZGv2lC0ztpO8j25hvWqlpLvOlYsF8sbiejAkIOCXWqQUT1zoe5DzG4IqEr187R
 wi7jsaTRpxS/eAqiDgNSNA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-016687.txt : 20030812
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-016687.hdr.sgml : 20030812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030812153742
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-016687
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:			WEST RICHARD R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001081543

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05842
		FILM NUMBER:		03837519

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		800 SCUDDER MILL ROAD
		CITY:			PLAINSBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			085636

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>0001081543</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WEST RICHARD R</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTrans
action><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>64</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>13.14</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37239</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The number 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 R. West</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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