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                                                                      EXHIBIT 21
 
                          SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY
 
     Listed below, as of January 1, 1994, are the significant subsidiaries of
the Company and their jurisdictions of organization. All of such subsidiaries
are wholly-owned by the Company except as indicated in the notes. Other
subsidiaries of the Company have been omitted because, considered in the
aggregate, they would not constitute a significant subsidiary.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 JURISDICTION OF
NAME OF SUBSIDIARY                               ORGANIZATION
<S>                                              <C>
Bowne of Boston, Inc.                            Massachusetts
Bowne of New York City, Inc.                     New York
Bowne of Cleveland, Inc.                         Ohio
Bowne of Atlanta, Inc.                           Georgia
Bowne of Chicago, Inc.                           Delaware
Bowne of Dallas, Inc.                            Delaware
Bowne of Phoenix, Inc.                           Arizona
Bowne of Los Angeles, Inc.                       California
Bowne of Canada, Ltd.                            Ontario
Bowne de Montreal, Inc.(1)                       Canada
Bowne International, Inc.                        Delaware
Bowne Information Services, Inc.                 New Jersey
Bowne Business Communications, Inc.              New York
Baseline Financial Services, Inc.(2)             New York
</TABLE>
 
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     (1) 100% owned by Bowne of Canada, Ltd.
 
     (2) 90% owned by the Company.
