-----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,
 Q6KR0uLBKbtwrZpJaLSn8jjUGRJjtmVH1WTBPhN9L6TDmPjohEnweEvQ0w/OnWkX
 3m51g4pjGdFbMe5dB7KTeA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-08-067402.txt : 20081229
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-08-067402.hdr.sgml : 20081225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081229085156
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-08-067402
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081229
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081229

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:		55 WATER STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10041-0006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129245500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		55 WATER STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10041-0006

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPITZER SCOTT L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179915

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05842
		FILM NUMBER:		081271068

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129245500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BOWNE & CO INC
		STREET 2:		55 WATER STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10041
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000013610</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOWNE &amp; CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179915</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPITZER SCOTT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BOWNE &amp; CO., INC.,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55 WATER STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10041</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Corp. Secretary</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Gen. Counsel</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to buy Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.045</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.045</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>124500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Incentive Stock Options granted under the Company's 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan. Options became exercisable in 25% increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant and expire on 12/09/2015.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott Spitzer by Scott Spitzer under Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----