EXHIBIT 10.12


June  25, 1998


John H. Phillips
1338 Swift Creek Lane
Manakin-Sabot, , VA  23221

            Re:   Employee Retention Agreement

Dear John:

      Cadmus Communications Corporation (the "Corporation") considers it
essential to the best interests of its shareholders to foster the continuous
employment of its key management personnel and that of its direct and indirect
subsidiaries (collectively the "Cadmus Companies" or individually a "Cadmus
Company"). In this connection, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the
"Board") recognizes that the possibility of a change in control of the
Corporation may exist and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and
questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or
distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Corporation and its
shareholders.

      The Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to
reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the
Cadmus Companies' management, including yourself, to their assigned duties
without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising
from the possibility of a change in control of the Corporation.

      In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Cadmus Companies,
the Corporation agrees that you shall receive the severance benefits set forth
in this letter agreement (the "Agreement") in the event your employment with the
Cadmus Companies is terminated under the circumstances described below
subsequent to a Change in Control (as defined in Section 2) of the Corporation.

1.    Certain Definitions.

      (a)   "Change in Control  Period" means the period  commencing on the date hereof
            and ending on the second anniversary of such date; provided,  however, that
            commencing  on the  date  one  year  after  the  date  hereof,  and on each
            anniversary  of such date (such date and each  annual  anniversary  thereof
            shall be  hereinafter  referred to as the  "Renewal  Date"),  the Change in
            Control  Period  shall be  automatically  extended so as to  terminate  two
            years from such Renewal Date,  unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal
            Date the  Corporation  shall give  notice to you that the Change in Control
            Period shall not be so extended.

      (b)   "Effective  Date" means the first date during the Change in Control  Period
            (as  defined  in  Section  1(b))  on  which a  Change  in  Control  occurs.
            Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,  if a Change in
            Control  occurs  and if  your  employment  with  the  Cadmus  Companies  is
            terminated prior to the date on which the Change in Control occurs,  and if
            it is reasonably  demonstrated  by you that such  termination of employment
            (i) was at the  request  of a third  party who has taken  steps  reasonably
            calculated  to effect the Change in  Control,  or (ii)  otherwise  arose in
            connection  with or  anticipation  of the Change in  Control,  then for all
            purposes  of this  Agreement  the  "Effective  Date"  shall  mean  the date
            immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment.

      (c)   "Employment Period" means the period commencing on the Effective
            Date and ending on the second anniversary of such date.

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      (d)   "Date  of  Termination"  means  (i) if  your  employment  with  the  Cadmus
            Companies is  terminated by the  Corporation  for Cause or is terminated by
            you for Good Reason,  the date of receipt of the Notice of  Termination  or
            any  later  date  specified  therein,  as the  case  may  be,  (ii) if your
            employment  with the Cadmus  Companies  is  terminated  by the  Corporation
            other than for Cause or Disability,  the Date of  Termination  shall be the
            date on which the Corporation  notifies you of such termination,  and (iii)
            if your  employment  is terminated  by reason of death or  Disability,  the
            Date of  Termination  shall  be the date of your  death  or the  Disability
            Effective Date, as the case may be.

      (e)   "Termination" means a notice which (i) indicates the specific
            termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) sets forth
            in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide
            a basis for termination of your employment under the provision so
            indicated, and (iii) if the Date of Termination is other than the
            date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date.

2.    Change in Control. No benefits shall be payable hereunder unless there
      shall have been a Change in Control of the Corporation, as set forth
      below. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" shall mean:
       (a)  The acquisition by any  individual,  entity or group (within the meaning of
            Section  13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as
            amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial  ownership (within
            the meaning of Rule 13d-3  promulgated  under the  Exchange  Act) of 20% or
            more of either  (i) the then  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock of the
            Corporation  (the  "Outstanding  Cadmus Common Stock") or (ii) the combined
            voting power of the then outstanding  voting  securities of the Corporation
            entitled to vote generally in the election of directors  (the  "Outstanding
            Cadmus Voting  Securities").  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the following
            acquisitions   shall  not   constitute   a  Change  in  Control:   (i)  any
            acquisition  directly from the  Corporation,  (ii) any  acquisition  by the
            Corporation,  (iii) any acquisition by, or benefit  distribution  from, any
            employee  benefit plan (or related  trust)  sponsored or  maintained by the
            Corporation  or any  corporation  controlled by the  Corporation,  (iv) any
            acquisition  pursuant to any compensatory  stock option,  stock purchase or
            other  stock  plan for  employees,  or (v) any  acquisition  pursuant  to a
            reorganization,    merger   or    consolidation,    if,    following   such
            reorganization,  merger  or  consolidation,  the  conditions  described  in
            clauses  (i),  (ii),  and  (iii) of  Subsection  (c) of this  Section 2 are
            satisfied; or
      (b)   Individuals  who,  as  of  the  date  hereof,  constitute  the  Board  (the
            "Incumbent  Board")  cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
            of the Board;  provided,  however,  that any individual becoming a director
            subsequent  to the date hereof whose  election or  nomination  for election
            was  approved  by a vote  of at  least a  majority  of the  directors  then
            comprising  the  Incumbent   Board  shall  be  considered  as  though  such
            individual  were a member of the  Incumbent  Board  (with  his  predecessor
            thereafter ceasing to be a member); or
       (c)  Approval by the  shareholders  of the  Corporation  of the  reorganization,
            merger,  or  consolidation  of  the  Corporation  unless,   following  such
            reorganization,  merger,  or  consolidation,  (i) more than 60% of the then
            outstanding  shares  of  common  stock  and  the  then  outstanding  voting
            securities of the resulting  corporation is then beneficially  owned by all
            or  substantially  all  of  the  beneficial  owners,  respectively,  of the
            Outstanding  Cadmus Common Stock and Outstanding  Cadmus Voting  Securities
            immediately prior to such  reorganization,  merger, or consolidation,  (ii)
            no Person  (excluding (A) the  Corporation,  (B) any employee  benefit plan
            (or related trust) of the  Corporation or such  corporation  resulting from
            such  reorganization,   merger,  or  consolidation,   and  (C)  any  Person
            beneficially owning,  immediately prior to such reorganization,  merger, or
            consolidation,  20% or more  of the  Outstanding  Cadmus  Common  Stock  or
            Outstanding  Cadmus  Voting  Securities,  as the case may be)  beneficially
            owns 20% or more of the then  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock or the
            combined  voting power of the then  outstanding  voting  securities  of the
            resulting corporation,  and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the
            board  of  directors  of the  resulting  corporation  were  members  of the
            Incumbent  Board  at the time of the  execution  of the  initial  agreement
            providing for such reorganization, merger, or consolidation; or
       (d)  Approval  by  the  shareholders  of  the  Corporation  of  (i)  a  complete
            liquidation or dissolution  of the  Corporation,  or (ii) the sale or other
            disposition of all or  substantially  all of the assets of the  Corporation
            other than to a corporation  with respect to which,  following such sale or
            other  disposition,  (A) more than 60% of the outstanding  shares of common
            stock and the then  outstanding  voting  securities of such  corporation is
            beneficially  owned by all or substantially  all of the beneficial  owners,
            respectively,  of the  Outstanding  Cadmus  Common  Stock  and  Outstanding
            Cadmus Voting  Securities  immediately  prior to such sale or  disposition;
            (B) no Person  (excluding (I) the  Corporation,  (II) any employee  benefit
            plan (or related trust) of the Corporation or such  corporation,  and (III)
            any Person  beneficially  owning,  immediately  prior to such sale or other
            disposition,  20% or  more  of  the  Outstanding  Cadmus  Common  Stock  or
            Outstanding  Cadmus  Voting  Securities,  as the case may be)  beneficially
            owns 20% or more of the then  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock or the
            combined  voting power of the then  outstanding  voting  securities of such
            corporation,  and (C) at least a  majority  of the  members of the board of
            directors of such  corporation  were members of the Incumbent  Board at the
            time of the execution of the initial  agreement  providing for such sale or
            other disposition of the assets of the corporation.

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3.    Employment Period. The Corporation hereby agrees to continue, or cause to
      be continued, your employment with the Cadmus Companies for the Employment
      Period.

4.    Termination of Employment.

      (a)   Your employment with the Cadmus Companies shall terminate
            automatically upon your death during the Employment Period.

      (b)   If, as a result of your  incapacity  due to physical or mental  illness (as
            determined  by the  Corporation),  you  shall  have  been  absent  from the
            full-time  performance of your duties with the Cadmus Companies for six (6)
            consecutive  months (your  "Disability"),  the Cadmus  Company by which you
            are  then  employed  may  give  you  written  notice  of its  intention  to
            terminate your employment.  In such event,  your employment with the Cadmus
            Companies shall  terminate  effective on the 30th day after your receipt of
            such notice (the  "Disability  Effective  Date"),  provided  that within 30
            days after your  receipt of such notice you have not  returned to full-time
            performance of your duties.

      (c)   Your  employment  with  the  Cadmus  Companies  may  be  terminated  by the
            Corporation  during  the  Employment  Period  with or  without  Cause.  For
            purposes hereof,  "Cause" shall mean (i) the willful and continued  failure
            by you to  substantially  perform  your  duties  with the Cadmus  Companies
            (other  than  any  such  failure  resulting  from  your  incapacity  due to
            physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated  failure after
            the issuance of a Notice of  Termination by you for Good Reason (as defined
            in  Section 4(d)),  after a written demand for  substantial  performance is
            delivered to you by the Board,  which demand  specifically  identifies  the
            manner  in which  the  Board  believes  that  you  have  not  substantially
            performed your duties,  (ii) the willful engagement by you in conduct which
            is  demonstrably  and  materially   injurious  to  the  Cadmus   Companies,
            monetarily or  otherwise,  or (iii) your  conviction of a felony  involving
            moral  turpitude.  For purposes of this  subsection,  no act, or failure to
            act, on your part shall be deemed  "willful"  unless done, or omitted to be
            done,  by you not in good faith and  without  reasonable  belief  that your
            action or omission was in the best interest of the Cadmus Companies.

      (d)   You may terminate your employment with the Cadmus Companies during
            the Employment Period for any reason, including without limitation
            Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall
            mean:

            (i)   the assignment to you of any duties inconsistent with the
                  position (including status, offices, titles, and reporting
                  requirements) or authority in the Cadmus Companies that you
                  held immediately prior to the Change in Control, or a
                  significant adverse alteration in the nature or status of your
                  responsibilities or the conditions of your employment from
                  those in effect immediately prior to such Change in Control;

            (ii)  a reduction by the Corporation in your annual base salary as
                  in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased
                  from time to time;

            (iii) if your principal office location is at the Corporation's
                  principal executive offices immediately prior to the Change in
                  Control, the relocation of the Corporation's principal
                  executive offices to a location outside the Richmond
                  Metropolitan Area, or if your principal office location is not
                  at the Corporation's principal executive offices immediately
                  prior to the Change in Control, the Corporation's requiring
                  you to be based anywhere other than your principal office
                  location immediately prior to the Change in Control except for
                  required travel on the Cadmus Companies' business to an extent
                  substantially consistent with your present business travel
                  obligations;

            (iv)  except in the event of reasonable administrative delay, the
                  failure by the Cadmus Companies to pay to you any portion of
                  your current compensation or to pay to you any portion of an
                  installment of deferred compensation under any deferred
                  compensation program of the Cadmus Companies within seven (7)
                  days of the date such compensation is due;

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            (v)    the failure by the Cadmus  Companies  to continue in effect
                   for you any compensation plan in which you participate
                   immediately prior to the Change in Control  that is  material
                   to your total compensation  or  any  substitute  plan adopted
                   prior  to the Change in Control,  unless an equitable
                   arrangement  (embodied in an ongoing  substitute  or
                   alternative  plan) has been made with  respect  to  such
                   plan,  or the  failure  by the  Cadmus Companies to continue
                   your  participation  therein (or in such substitute or
                   alternative  plan) on a basis not materially less favorable,
                   both in terms of the  amount of  benefits  provided and  the
                   level  of  your   participation   relative  to  other
                   participants,  as it  existed  at the  time  of the  Change
                   in Control;

            (vi)   the failure by the Cadmus  Companies to continue to provide
                   you with  benefits  substantially  similar to those  enjoyed
                   by you under any of the Cadmus  Companies'  life  insurance,
                   medical, health  and  accident,  or  disability  plans in
                   which you were participating at the time of the Change in
                   Control,  the taking of any action by any Cadmus  Company
                   which  would  directly or indirectly  materially  reduce any
                   of such  benefits or deprive you of any material  fringe
                   benefit  enjoyed by you at the time of the  Change  in
                   Control,  or  the  failure  by  the  Cadmus Companies to
                   provide you with the number of paid  vacation days to which
                   you are  entitled  on the  basis of years of  service with
                   the  Cadmus  Companies  in  accordance  with  the  normal
                   vacation  policy of the Cadmus Company  employing you in
                   effect at the time of the Change in Control;

            (vii)  the failure of the Corporation to obtain a satisfactory
                   agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform
                   this Agreement, as contemplated in Section 6 hereof; or

            (viii) any purported termination of your employment that is not
                   effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
                   requirements of Subsection (e) hereof (and, if applicable,
                   the requirements of Subsections (b) and (c) hereof), which
                   purported termination shall not be effective for purposes of
                   this Agreement.

                   For purposes of this subsection, any good faith determination
                   of "Good Reason" made by you shall be conclusive. In
                   addition, your right to terminate your employment pursuant to
                   this subsection shall not be affected by your incapacity due
                   to physical or mental illness and your continued employment
                   shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with
                   respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason
                   hereunder.

      (e)   Any purported termination of your employment with the Cadmus
            Companies by the Corporation or by you shall be communicated by
            written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in
            accordance with Section 8.

5.    Compensation upon Termination during the Employment Period. Following a
      Change in Control, you shall be entitled to the following benefits upon
      termination of your employment with the Cadmus Companies provided that
      such termination occurs during the Employment Period:

      (a)   If your  employment  is  terminated  by reason  of your  death  during  the
            Employment   Period,   this  Agreement  shall  terminate   without  further
            obligations to your legal representatives under this Agreement,  other than
            for (i)  payment of your Base Salary (as  defined in Section  5(g)  hereof)
            through  the Date of  Termination  at the same rate in effect at such date,
            and  (ii)  all  other   amounts  to  which  you  are  entitled   under  any
            compensation  plan or any other plan,  policy, or arrangement of the Cadmus
            Companies, at the time such payments are due.

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      (b)   During any period that you fail to perform your  full-time  duties with the
            Cadmus  Companies  as a result  of  incapacity  due to  physical  or mental
            illness, you shall continue to receive,  until this Agreement is terminated
            pursuant to  Section 4(b)  hereof,  your Base Salary (as defined in Section
            5(g))  at the  rate in  effect  at the  commencement  of any  such  period,
            together  with  all  compensation   payable  to  you  under  any  long-term
            disability  plan  maintained  by the Cadmus  Companies  in your name or for
            your benefit or other  similar plan during such  period.  Thereafter,  your
            benefits  shall be  determined  under the  retirement,  insurance and other
            compensation  programs of the Cadmus  Companies in which you participate in
            accordance  with the  terms of such  programs;  however,  your  receipt  of
            benefits  under any  long-term  disability  plan  maintained  by the Cadmus
            Companies  in your name or for your  benefit  will not be  affected by your
            termination under this Agreement.

      (c)   If,  during  the  Employment  Period,   your  employment  with  the  Cadmus
            Companies  shall be terminated by the Corporation for Cause or by you other
            than for Good  Reason,  you shall be  entitled to your full Base Salary (as
            defined in Section  5(g))  through the Date of  Termination  at the rate in
            effect at the time Notice of Termination  is given,  plus all other amounts
            to  which  you are  entitled  under  any  compensation  plan of the  Cadmus
            Companies  at the time such  payments  are due,  and the  Cadmus  Companies
            shall have no further obligations to you under this Agreement.

      (d)   If, during the Employment Period, your employment with the Cadmus
            Companies shall be terminated by you for Good Reason or by the
            Corporation other than for Cause, death, or Disability, then you
            shall be entitled to the benefits provided below:

            (i)   you the Corporation shall pay to you your full Base Salary (as
                  defined in Section 5(g) hereof) through the Date of
                  Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of
                  Termination is given, no later than the fifth day following
                  the Date of Termination, plus all other amounts to which you
                  are entitled under any compensation plan of the Cadmus
                  Companies, at the time such payments are due;

            (ii)  in lieu of any  further  salary  or bonus  payments  to you for
                  periods  subsequent  to the Date of  Termination,  you shall be
                  paid as  severance  pay to you,  at the time and in the  manner
                  specified   in   Subsection (e),   a  severance   payment  (the
                  "Severance  Payment")  equal to the  product  of (A) your  Base
                  Salary (as defined in Section  5(g)  hereof),  and (B) a number
                  (the  "Payment/Benefit  Factor")  determined  by dividing by 52
                  the sum of (I) three  times the  number of full  years that you
                  have been  employed  by the  Cadmus  Companies,  and (II) three
                  times each $10,000 of your annual  salary  (that is,  excluding
                  bonus)  as in  effect  at the  Date of  Termination;  provided,
                  however, that in no event shall such Payment/Benefit  Factor be
                  less than .5 nor greater than 2, and  provided,  further,  that
                  in no event  shall such  amount  exceed the amount of your Base
                  Salary (as defined in Section 5(g)), on an undiscounted  basis,
                  which you would have  received  had you  remained in the employ
                  of the Cadmus  Companies  until your "Normal  Retirement  Date"
                  (as  defined  in  the   Corporation's   Pension  Plan  (or  any
                  successor thereto) (the "Pension Plan");

            (iii) a separate lump-sum supplemental retirement benefit (the
                  amount of such benefit shall be hereinafter referred to as the
                  "Supplemental Retirement Amount") equal to the difference
                  between (A) the actuarial equivalent (utilizing for this
                  purpose the actuarial assumptions utilized in determining
                  benefit cash-outs with respect to the Corporation's Pension
                  Plan during the 90-day period immediately preceding the
                  Effective Date) of the benefit payable under the Pension Plan
                  and any supplemental and/or excess benefit plan of the
                  Corporation providing benefits for you (the "SERP") which you
                  would receive if your employment continued at the compensation
                  level in effect at the Date of Termination for the remainder
                  of the Employment Period, assuming for this purpose that all
                  accrued benefits are fully vested and that benefit accrual
                  formulas are no less advantageous to you than those in effect
                  during the 90-day period immediately proceeding the Effective
                  Date, and (B) the actuarial equivalent (utilizing for this
                  purpose the actuarial assumptions utilized in determining
                  benefit cash outs with respect to the Pension Plan during the
                  90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date) of
                  your actual vested benefit (paid or payable), if any, under
                  the Pension Plan and the SERP;

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            (iv)    Except as provided in (iii) above, your participation in,
                    and terminating distribution and vested rights under, the
                    Corporation's Pension Plan and other plans of deferred
                    compensation of the Cadmus Companies shall be governed by
                    the terms of those respective plans;

            (v)     the  Corporation  shall pay to you all legal fees and
                    expenses incurred by you as a result of such termination,
                    including all such fees and expenses,  if any,  incurred in
                    seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit  provided
                    by this  Agreement or in  connection  with any tax audit or
                    proceeding to the extent attributable   to  the  application
                    of  Section  4999  of  the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,
                    as amended (the "Code") to any payment or benefit provided
                    hereunder;

            (vi)    for a period  of  years  (or  portion  thereof)  (the
                    "Payment Period")  equal  to  the  Payment/Benefit   Factor
                    after  such termination or until your "Normal  Retirement
                    Date" (as defined in the Corporation's  Pension Plan,
                    whichever first occurs, the Corporation   shall   arrange to
                    provide   you  with  life, disability,   accident  and group
                    health  insurance  benefits substantially  similar to those
                    which you were receiving  under the welfare programs of the
                    Cadmus Companies  immediately prior to the Notice of
                    Termination.  Benefits  otherwise  receivable by you
                    pursuant  to this  clause  (vi) shall be reduced to the
                    extent  comparable  benefits are actually  received by you
                    from any  source  (including  a  subsequent  employer)
                    during  such period  following  your  termination,  and  any
                    such  benefits actually received by you shall be reported to
                    the Corporation;

            (vii)   in the event that the payments and benefits provided to you,
                    or for your benefit, under this Agreement or under any other
                    plan or agreement which become payable or are taken into
                    account as "parachute payments" within the meaning of
                    Section 280G of the Code as a result of a Change in Control
                    or your termination of employment relating thereto (the
                    "Total Parachute Payments") would result in your being
                    entitled to "excess parachute payments" as defined in
                    Section 280G of the Code, the payments and benefits provided
                    to you, or for your benefit, under this Agreement shall be
                    reduced (but not below zero) to the extent necessary so that
                    no payment to be made, or benefit to be provided, to you or
                    for your benefit under this Agreement or any other plan or
                    agreement would result in "excess parachute payments" as
                    defined in Section 280G of the Code, provided, however that
                    the reduction provided in this clause shall not apply unless
                    your net after-tax benefit if such reduction were made shall
                    exceed your net after-tax benefit if such reduction were not
                    made. "Net after-tax benefit" shall mean the sum of (A) the
                    Total Parachute Payments which you receive or are then
                    entitled to receive, less (B) the amount of federal, state
                    and local income and employment taxes payable by you with
                    respect to the Total Parachute Payments, less (C) the amount
                    of excise taxes imposed with respect to the Total Parachute
                    Payments by Section 4999 of the Code. All determinations
                    regarding the reductions or additional payment called for in
                    this clause (vii) shall be made by tax counsel selected by
                    the Corporation and shall be based on the maximum applicable
                    marginal tax rates for each year in which such payments rate
                    in effect for such year at the and benefits shall be paid or
                    provided to you or for your benefit (based upon the time of
                    the first payment of the foregoing and, as appropriate as
                    determined by such tax counsel, the taxable wage base for
                    employment tax purposes); and

             (viii) for a period of twelve (12) months following such
                    termination, the Corporation shall pay the expenses of such
                    outplacement services as you may require, with such services
                    to be performed by such agency as the Corporation shall
                    designate.

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      (e)    The  payment  provided  for in  Subsection  (d)(ii),  shall  be  made in a
            lump-sum  not later than the 30th day  following  the Date of  Termination.
            Notwithstanding  anything contained in this Subsection (e) or in Subsection
            (d)(ii),  you  may  elect  to  receive,  in lieu  of a  lump-sum  Severance
            Payment,  the benefits  described in  Subsection  (d)(ii) in equal  monthly
            installments  commencing  on the first day of the month  following the Date
            of  Termination  and  ending  on the first to occur of (A) the first day of
            the last  month  within  the  Payment  Period,  or (B) the first day of the
            month in which  occurs  your  "Normal  Retirement  Date" (as defined in the
            Corporation's Pension Plan.

      (f)   Except as provided in Subsection (d)(vi) hereof you shall not be
            required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this
            Section 5 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the
            amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Section 5 be
            reduced by any compensation earned by you as the result of
            employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset
            against any amount claimed to be owed by you to any Cadmus Company,
            or otherwise.

      (g)   For purposes of this Agreement, your "Base Salary" shall mean the
            greater of (i) the annual salary and bonus paid to you by the Cadmus
            Companies at the date of this Agreement, or (ii) the annual salary
            and bonus payable to you by the Cadmus Companies during the fiscal
            year in which a Change in Control occurs.

6.    Successors:  Binding Agreement.

      (a)   This Agreement is personal to you and without the prior written
            consent of the Corporation shall not be assignable by you otherwise
            than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
            shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, your legal
            representatives.

      (b)   This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon,
            the Corporation and its successors and assigns.

      (c)   The Corporation will require any successor (whether direct or indirect,  by
            purchase,  merger,  consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all
            of the business  and/or assets of the  Corporation to assume  expressly and
            agree to perform  this  Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent
            that the Corporation  would be required to perform it if no such succession
            had taken place.  As used in this Agreement,  "Corporation"  shall mean the
            Corporation  as  hereinbefore  defined and any  successor  to its  business
            and/or  assets as  aforesaid  which  assumes  and  agrees to  perform  this
            Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

7.    Resolution  of Disputes.  If there shall be any dispute  between the  Corporation
      and you (i) in the event of any  termination of your  employment  with the Cadmus
      Companies by the Corporation,  whether such termination was for Cause, or (ii) in
      the event of any  termination  of  employment  with the Cadmus  Companies by you,
      whether  Good  Reason  existed,   then,  unless  and  until  there  is  a  final,
      nonappealable  judgment by a court of competent  jurisdiction declaring that such
      termination  was for Cause or that the  determination  by you of the existence of
      Good Reason was not made in good faith,  the  Corporation  shall pay all amounts,
      and provide all benefits,  to you and/or your family or other  beneficiaries,  as
      the case may be,  that  the  Corporation  would  be  required  to pay or  provide
      pursuant  to Section  5(d) as though  such  termination  were by the  Corporation
      without  Cause  or  by  you  with  Good  Reason;  provided,   however,  that  the
      Corporation  shall not be required to pay any disputed  amounts  pursuant to this
      Section 7 except upon receipt of an  undertaking  by or on behalf of you to repay
      all such  amounts to which you are  ultimately  adjudged  by such court not to be
      entitled.

8.    Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement,  notices and all other  communications
      provided  for in this  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
      been  duly  given  when  delivered  or  mailed  by  United  States  certified  or
      registered mail,  return receipt  requested,  postage  prepaid,  addressed to the
      respective  addresses  set forth on the first  page of this  Agreement,  provided
      that all notice to the  Corporation  shall be  directed to the  attention  of the
      Board with a copy to the Secretary of the  Corporation,  or to such other address
      as  either  party  may have  furnished  to the  other in  writing  in  accordance
      herewith,  except that notice of change of address  shall be effective  only upon
      receipt.

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9.    Miscellaneous.

      (a)   This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
            the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without reference to
            principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are
            not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

      (b)   The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
            Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
            other provision of this Agreement.

      (c)   The Corporation may withhold from any amounts payable under this
            Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to
            be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

      (d)   Your or the  Corporation's  failure to insist upon strict  compliance  with
            any  provision  hereof  or any other  provision  of this  Agreement  or the
            failure  to assert  any right you or the  Corporation  may have  hereunder,
            including,  without limitation, your right to terminate your employment for
            Good  Reason  pursuant  to  Section  4(d)  or the  Corporation's  right  to
            terminate your employment for Cause pursuant to Section 4(c),  shall not be
            deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other  provision or
            right of this Agreement.

      (e)   You and the Corporation acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be
            provided under any other written agreement between you and the
            Corporation, your employment by the Cadmus Companies is "at will"
            and if, prior to the Effective Date, your employment with the Cadmus
            Companies terminates, then you shall have no rights under this
            Agreement.

      (f)   Prior to the Effective Date, this Agreement may be amended,
            modified, or terminated by the Corporation, which amendment,
            modification, or termination shall be binding and effective without
            any requirement for notification of, or consent by, you.
            Notwithstanding the foregoing, on or after the Effective Date, this
            Agreement may not be amended, modified, or terminated otherwise than
            by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their
            respective successors and legal representatives.

10.   Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the
      parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and
      supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements,
      communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by
      any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto; and any prior
      agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
      herein is hereby terminated and canceled.

            If this letter sets forth our agreement on the subject matter
hereof, kindly sign and return to the Corporation the enclosed copy of this
letter, which will then constitute our agreement on this subject.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    CADMUS COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION


                                    By ______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

Accepted and agreed to:



____________________________
John H. Phillips

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