<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-09-033570
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20090624
<FILING-DATE>20090624
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090624
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Lee William P
<CIK>0001466569
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-05842
<FILM-NUMBER>09906724
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>55 WATER ST, 11TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10041
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc3.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-06-24</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001466569</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lee William P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>55 WATER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10041</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, CMC</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29118</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to buy Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.855</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-24</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to buy Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-24</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comon Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to buy Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to buy Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.045</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Non-Qualified stock options granted under the Company's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan. Options became exercisable in 50% increments on the first two anniversaries of the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Incentive Stock Options granted under the Company's 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan. Options became exercisable in 25% increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Incentive Stock Options granted under the Company's 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan. Options became exercisable in 25% increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant and expire on 12/09/2015.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William P.Lee by Scott Spitzer under Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
