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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MahZMm74PQJEFlWX+ZwEAFuz8qrIBIHXoqQLhegMh96BycKyeDMSE1DP4DEeX7fV
 /XOgpCx5kdb3t8bpbzKDLw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000009801-03-000030.txt : 20031029
<SEC-HEADER>0000009801-03-000030.hdr.sgml : 20031029
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031029163856
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000009801-03-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031027
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031029

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:			RUDOLPH FRANK W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235712

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14637
		FILM NUMBER:		03964154

	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>c0001235712d20031029f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-27</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000009801</issuerCik><issuerName>BANTA CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>BN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001235712</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>RUDOLPH FRANK W</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>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDeri
vativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1013.969</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-09-06</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-09-05</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10
000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</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>14000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></der
ivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</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>14000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.8</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-27</value></
transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>14000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-10-27</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>14000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><n
atureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes an aggregate of 283.279 shares acquired from February through September 2003 through the Banta Corporation 401(k) plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Option granted to reporting person on October 27, 2003 under the Banta Corporation Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The option vests as to 33-1/3% of the shares subject thereto on the first anniversary of the grant date, an additional 33-1/3% on the second anniversary of the grant date, and the final 33-1/3% on the third anniversary of the grant date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ronald D. Kneezel, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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