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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Fu3kel2zMBiXK3Kq+OFIz9ZvzhM3veDixLLaW0V6AmA6ZdM+GWFhRT8IyrVyM53u
 xbKB7cAt2j8CdkopB92zNw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-008242.txt : 20031002
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-008242.hdr.sgml : 20031002
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031002102509
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-008242
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031002

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THORNDIKE W NICHOLAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001008348

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07597
		FILM NUMBER:		03922387

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL CO
		STREET 2:		75 FOUNTAIN STREET
		CITY:			PROVIDENCE
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02902
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000025212</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COURIER CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001008348</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THORNDIKE W NICHOLAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 WALNUT PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BROOKLINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02445</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26100</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>Trustee</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>47.17</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-07-01</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2008-10-01</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">1,000 shares vest on 10/1/03; 1,000 shares vest on 1/1/04; 1,000 shares vest on 4/1/04; and 1,000 shares vest on 7/1/04</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Stock option awarded pursuant to the Courier Corporation Deferred Income Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>s/ W. Nicholas Thorndike</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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