Bowne Board Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $.055 per Share

Market Wire, October, 2008

The Board of Directors of Bowne & Co., Inc. (NYSE: BNE), announced the declaration of the quarterly cash dividend on its Common Stock at the rate of $.055 per share. The dividend will be payable November 14, 2008 to shareholders of record at the close of business October 31, 2008.

Bowne has paid consecutive quarterly cash dividends since the company became public in August 1968.

About Bowne & Co., Inc.

Bowne & Co., Inc. (NYSE: BNE) provides shareholder and marketing communications services around the world. Dealmakers rely on Bowne to handle critical transactional communications with speed and accuracy. Compliance professionals turn to Bowne to prepare and file regulatory and shareholder communications online and in print. Marketers look to Bowne to create and distribute customized, one-to-one communications on demand. With 3,700 employees in 60 offices around the globe, Bowne has met the ever-changing demands of its clients for more than 230 years. For more information, please visit www.bowne.com

Investor Relations Contact: John J. Walker SVP & Chief Financial Officer 212-658-5804 john.walker@bowne.com Media Contact: Pamela Blum Director, Corporate Communications 212-658-5884 pamela.blum@bowne.com Bowne & Co., Inc. 55 Water Street New York, NY 10041 212/924-5500 Fax: 212/658-5871