<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-09</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000013610</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOWNE &amp; CO INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>BNE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001179912</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILES JOSEPH O</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr. VP, Corp. Mark.</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, Par Value $.01 per Share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>38</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>10.975</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8249</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">(1) 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, and shares held in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Joseph O. Miles</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

