-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AcmBgV3ZAeVLnFQo5cSPa1CbWejWIcKwLWyH35k/s78orGN0fisHeJiZIJ+CBbgS
 91zXO69LilfnV5k7VYpj6A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-006899.txt : 20030904
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-006899.hdr.sgml : 20030904
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030904163322
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-006899
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030904
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030904

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOLGER PETER M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183621

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07597
		FILM NUMBER:		03881833

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15 WELLMAN AVENUE
		CITY:			NORTH CHLMSFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01863
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9782516000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COURIER CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000025212
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BOOK PRINTING [2732]
		IRS NUMBER:				042502514
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15 WELLMAN AVENUE
		CITY:			NORTH CHELMSFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01863
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9782516000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-04</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000025212</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COURIER CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOLGER PETER M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>15 WELLMAN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH CHELMSFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01863</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Vice President and Controller</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>common stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-04</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2250</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>6.33</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19505</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>common stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-04</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>260</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>54.69</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19245</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1768</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>By ESOP Trust</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.33</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-04</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2250</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>6.33</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>1999-09-26</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2003-09-26</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>2250</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>s/Peter M. Folger</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-04</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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