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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FoJwbE1n/frTQazjYeZQyyKN/3VYfDKdGlLQwyYryH15evV6As4yO9E9Meo3U56C
 wIFTv+Rsey8muzcTk2B64A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-016619.txt : 20030812
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-016619.hdr.sgml : 20030812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030812135102
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-016619
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030808
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030812

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH REED R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213369

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05842
		FILM NUMBER:		03836952

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BOWNE & CO
		STREET 2:		345 HUDSON ST
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2124148928

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BOWNE & CO
		STREET 2:		345 HUDSON ST
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10014
</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>0001213369</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH REED 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>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr. Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><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>106</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>13.14</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>29199</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmo
unts><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, and shares held in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Reed R. Smith</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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