Exhibit 5

SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT

June 24, 1999

Bowne & Co., Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      We are acting as counsel to Bowne & Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) of 3,450,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Shares”), of the Company issuable under the 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”).

      We have examined the Registration Statement, the Plan and the form of prospectus related to the Plan. In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, original or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company, and have made such other and further investigations, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth.

      In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

      Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that when appropriate action has been taken by the Board of Directors or an appropriate Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and when such Shares have been issued and sold and the purchase price paid therefor, any newly issued Shares to be acquired by participants in the Plan will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

      We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York, the federal law of the United States and the Delaware General Corporation Law.

      This opinion is rendered to you in connection with the above described transaction. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any purpose, or relied upon by or furnished to, any other person, firm or corporation without our prior written consent.

      We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement.

	Very truly yours,
	/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
	SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT