Exhibit 23.1
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 28, 2008
relating to the statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related
statements of income (loss) and changes in plan equity for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 2007, which report appears in the December 31, 2007 annual report on Form
11-K of Bowne & Co., Inc. Global Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
March 28, 2008