-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Vp8GuOFgS20O/A8wzMnhbWEmrZ/5kaVIMJf36kK7BfZVfGvsxvsr+B8ofnPR7IMR
 PV7wQzvlJeiXJqydOapRrw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-019322.txt : 20041004
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-019322.hdr.sgml : 20041004
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041004175512
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-019322
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041004
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041004

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:		041063681

	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>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-01</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>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>56.25</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </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>36.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-01</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="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-10-01</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">Number of shares gifted is reported pre-split.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Price of the shares is reported pre-split.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 11500 shares acquired as a result of a 3 for 2 stock split on 12/5/03.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 1000 shares acquired as a result of a 3 for 2 stock split on 12/5/03.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">1000 shares vest 10/1/04; 1000 shares vest 1/1/05; 1000 shares vest 4/1/05; 1000 shares vest 7/1/05.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Stock option award granted pursuant to the Courier Corporation Deferred Income Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/ W. Nicholas Thorndike</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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