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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) January 30, 1997


                                BOWNE & CO., INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



              New York                                   13-2618477
(State of incorporation or organization)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


      345 Hudson Street
      New York, New York                           10014
 (Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 212-924-5500

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Item 5.  Other Events

                  On January 30, 1997, the Board of Directors of Bowne & Co.,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right
(a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). The dividend is payable on February
10, 1997 (the "Record Date") to the shareholders of record on that date. Each
Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-thousandth of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company at a price of $125
per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"),
subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in
a Rights Agreement dated as of January 30, 1997, as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and The Bank of New
York, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

                  Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date
as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as
any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following
the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"),
the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Stock
certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Stock certificate
together with a copy of this Summary of Rights.

                  The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be
transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates
issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuances of Common Stock will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date will also constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such
certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights.
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                  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire on January 30, 2007 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless
the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed
or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.

                  The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of
Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the
Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in
the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the
Preferred Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase
Preferred Stock at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with
a conversion price, less than the then-current market price of the Preferred
Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of
evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends
or dividends payable in Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants
(other than those referred to above).

                  The number of outstanding Rights are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend
on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.

                  Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights will not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled,
when, as and if declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment
of $1 per share but will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 1000 times the
dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the
holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential
liquidation payment of $100 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends)
but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 1000 times the payment made per
share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 1000 votes,
voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock are converted
or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1000
times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are protected
by customary antidilution provisions.

                  Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a
share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should
approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.

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                  In the event that any person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other
than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon
become void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right
at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of Common
Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

                  In the event that, after a person or group has become an
Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning
power are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right
(other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have
become void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares
of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the foregoing
transaction (or its parent), which number of shares at the time of such
transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right.

                  At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring
Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the occurrence of an event described
in the prior paragraph, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have become
void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock,
or one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or
series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

                  With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least
1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be
issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash
will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading day prior to the date of exercise.

                  At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes
such, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but
not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.

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                  For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company
may, except with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights in any
manner. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with
respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights in any manner that does not
adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.

                  Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends.

                  This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
as the same may be amended from time to time, which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 7.  Exhibits.


         1.       Rights Agreement, dated as of January 30, 1997, between the
                  Company and The Bank of New York, which includes the
                  Certificate of Amendment for the Series B Junior Participating
                  Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as
                  Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
                  Shares as Exhibit C.

         2.       Press Release dated January 30, 1997.



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                                    SIGNATURE

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereto duly authorized.


                                               BOWNE & CO., INC.


DATED: February 10, 1997                  By:   DOUGLAS F. BAUER
                                               ------------------
                                               Name: Douglas F. Bauer
                                               Title: Corporate Secretary

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.                            Description
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     1            Rights Agreement, dated as of January 30, 1997, between the
                  Company and The Bank of New York, which includes the
                  Certificate of Amendment for the Series B Junior Participating
                  Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as
                  Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
                  Shares as Exhibit C.

     2            Press Release dated January 30, 1997.



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