<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-07-017862
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20070314
<FILING-DATE>20070315
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20070315
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BOWNE & CO INC
<CIK>0000013610
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2750
<IRS-NUMBER>132618477
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>55 WATER STREET
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10041-0006
<PHONE>2129245500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>55 WATER STREET
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10041-0006
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SHEA DAVID
<CIK>0001179914
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-05842
<FILM-NUMBER>07695549
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>2129245500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>BOWNE & CO INC
<STREET2>55 WATER STREET
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10041
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-03-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000013610</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOWNE &amp; CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179914</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHEA DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BOWNE &amp; CO., INC.,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55 WATER STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10041</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres. and Chief Operating Off.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2046</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.874</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>94209</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Deferred stock units credited to the Reporting Person under Company plans as permitted under applicable SEC rules.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This number includes units previously acquired by dividend reinvestment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David J. Shea by Scott L. Spitzer under Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
