CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Trustees of the

     Bowne & Co., Inc. Global Employee Stock Purchase Plan:

      We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (No. 333-79409) on Form S-8 of the Bowne & Co., Inc. Global Employee Stock Purchase Plan of our report dated March 30, 2005 relating to the statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related statements of income and changes in plan equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, which report appears in the December 31, 2004 Annual Report on Form 11-K of Bowne & Co., Inc. Global Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

/s/ KPMG LLP

New York, New York

March 30, 2005