-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PKKHZ+vkGOMDM0mR4DRTHh8Ce2SNNMuMlEC598nw9hvWF+YghKVGg+/iGwv+cmhL
 CGyla8419VhSyfksdXmOHg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000009801-03-000018.txt : 20030818
<SEC-HEADER>0000009801-03-000018.hdr.sgml : 20030818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030818171941
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000009801-03-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030818

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANTA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009801
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMERCIAL PRINTING [2750]
		IRS NUMBER:				390148550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 MAIN ST
		CITY:			MENASHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			54952
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9207517777

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANTA GEORGE CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890509

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANTA GEORGE PUBLISHING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720505

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELCHER DONALD D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235706

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14637
		FILM NUMBER:		03853813

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BANTA CORP
		STREET 2:		225 MAIN ST BOX 8003
		CITY:			MENASHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			549528003
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3207965167

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 MAIN ST BOX 8003
		CITY:			MENASHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			549528003
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001235706d20030818f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-14</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000009801</issuerCik><issuerName>BANTA CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>BN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001235706</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BELCHER DONALD D</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>225 MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>P. O. BOX 8003</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>MENASHA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>54952-8003</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman of the Board</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
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ue></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-10-26</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>82500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>82500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>26.375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-10-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-10-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>55000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></u
nderlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>55000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.58</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1996-10-31</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-10-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>37500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOf
Ownership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>28.45</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-11-05</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-11-05</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>110000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>110000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>35.04</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate>
<value>2002-10-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-10-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>110000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>110000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ronald D. Kneezel, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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