<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT ON FORM 10-K OF THE MEAD CORPORATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THIS SCHEDULE SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE FILED FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 11 OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, SECTION 18 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND
SECTION 323 OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939, OR OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO THE
LIABILITIES OF SUCH SECTIONS, NOR SHALL IT BE DEEMED A PART OF ANY REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO WHICH IT RELATES.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR 3-MOS 6-MOS 9-MOS YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 MAR-31-1996 JUN-30-1996 SEP-29-1996 DEC-31-1995
<CASH> 21 138 22 122 293
<SECURITIES> 0 0 0 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 606 516 691 640 613
<ALLOWANCES> 28 0 0 0 27
<INVENTORY> 509 524 479 412 411
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,189 1,271 1,283 1,266 1,367
<PP&E> 5,199 4,378 4,457 4,536 4,319
<DEPRECIATION> 2,078 1,994 2,029 2,057 1,955
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,986 4,333 4,383 4,405 4,373
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,240 722 743 688 822
<BONDS> 1,240 726 727 721 695
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0 0 0 0
<COMMON> 156 157 156 156 158
<OTHER-SE> 2,091 2,013 2,035 2,085 2,002
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,986 4,333 4,383 4,405 4,373
<SALES> 0 0 0 0 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 4,707 1,067 2,326 3,557 5,179
<CGS> 0 0 0 0 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 4,368 863 1,864 2,859 4,656
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 0 0 0
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 58 15 27 40 69
<INCOME-PRETAX> 295 61 168 253 488
<INCOME-TAX> 109 23 62 93 184
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 186 31 106 161 304
<DISCONTINUED> 5 5 0 5 8
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 195 36 103 166 350
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.86 .34 .98 1.58 3.22
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.84 .34 .97 1.56 3.17