HUNT CORP
DEF 14A, 1998-03-02
PENS, PENCILS & OTHER ARTISTS' MATERIALS
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<PAGE>
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
                Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /

Check the appropriate box:

/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
    Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to 240.14a-11(c) or 240.14a-12


                               Hunt Corporation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

/X/ No fee required
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

    1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

       
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    2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

       
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    3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
       pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
       filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

        
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    4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

        
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    5) Total fee paid:

       
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/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
    0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
    paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
    number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

    1) Amount Previously Paid: 

    ___________________________________________________________________________
    2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

    ___________________________________________________________________________
    3) Filing Party:

    ___________________________________________________________________________
    4) Date Filed:

    ___________________________________________________________________________
 

<PAGE>

 [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

                               HUNT CORPORATION

                          ---------------------------

                   NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                         To be Held on April 15, 1998

                          ---------------------------
To Our Shareholders:

     The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Hunt Corporation (formerly Hunt
Manufacturing Co.) will be held at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on April 15, 1998, on the
8th Floor, Mellon Bank Center, 1735 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
for the following purposes:

        1. To elect four directors to serve for a three-year term;

        2. To vote on a proposal to ratify the appointment of independent
    accountants; and

        3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
    meeting and any adjournments thereof.

     The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on February 13,
1998, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

     All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person.
However, whether or not you plan to attend, please promptly sign, date and mail
the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed return envelope which requires no
postage if mailed in the United States. Returning your proxy card does not
deprive you of your right to attend the meeting and vote your shares in person.
 


                                     By order of the Board of Directors,




                                     WILLIAM E. CHANDLER, Secretary


March 2, 1998
<PAGE>

                               HUNT CORPORATION
                              One Commerce Square
                               2005 Market Street
                             Philadelphia, PA 19103

                          ---------------------------
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                          ---------------------------

     This proxy statement, which is being sent to shareholders on or about
March 5, 1998, is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by
the Board of Directors of Hunt Corporation (the "Company") for use at the
forthcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") to be held on April
15, 1998, and at any adjournments thereof.

     At the close of business on February 13, 1998, the record date for
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
meeting, there were outstanding an aggregate of 11,244,800 of the Company's
Common Shares. Pursuant to the Company's 1990 shareholders' Rights Agreement,
rights to purchase securities of the Company under certain circumstances are
deemed to be attached to outstanding Common Shares.


Voting and Revocability of Proxies

     Each Common Share outstanding on the record date is entitled to one vote
on all matters to come before the Meeting, except that shareholders have the
right to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. This means that
shareholders may multiply the number of votes to which they are entitled by the
number of directors to be elected, and the whole number of such votes may be
cast for one nominee or distributed among any two or more nominees. If you wish
to cumulate your votes in this manner, you must clearly indicate on your proxy
card your desire to cumulate and how many votes you wish to cast for each
nominee.

     A majority of the Common Shares entitled to vote at the Meeting,
represented in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum. In the election of
directors, assuming a quorum is present, the four nominees receiving the
highest number of votes cast at the Meeting will be elected. The affirmative
vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting is required for approval of
Proposal 2, assuming a quorum is present. Abstentions, the withholding of a
vote, or the specific direction not to cast any vote on a specific matter, such
as broker non-votes, will not constitute the casting of a vote on such matter.

     Your proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by giving
written notice to the Secretary of the Company, by presenting a duly executed
proxy bearing a later date or by voting in person at the Meeting, but your mere
attendance at the Meeting will not revoke your proxy. Your proxy, when properly
executed, will be voted in accordance with the specific instructions indicated
on your proxy card. Unless contrary instructions are given, your proxy will be
voted FOR the election of the four nominees for director, as provided under
"Election of Directors" below (in equal amounts or cumulatively, as the persons
voting the proxies may determine); FOR


                                       1
<PAGE>

ratification of the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the Company's
independent accountants for the 1998 fiscal year; and, to the extent permitted
by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accordance with the
judgment of the persons voting the proxies upon such other matters as may come
before the Meeting and any adjournments.


                            1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     The Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company provide
that the number of directors shall be eleven, to be divided into three classes
as nearly equal in number as possible. The Board of Directors has nominated,
and recommends the election of, the following four persons to serve as
directors of the Company until the 2001 Annual Meeting or until their
successors are elected and have qualified:

          William F. Hamilton, Ph.D.          Mary R. (Nina) Henderson
          Wilson D. McElhinny                 Roderic H. Ross

     All the nominees are presently serving as directors of the Company, having
previously been elected by the shareholders of the Company. Mr. Belcher, of the
class of 1999, was elected a director by the Board in June 1997. Although the
Board of Directors has no reason to believe any of the nominees will be unable
to serve, if such should occur, your proxy will be voted (unless marked to the
contrary) for such person or persons, if any, as shall be recommended by the
Board of Directors. However, your proxy will not be voted for the election of
more than four directors. A vacancy currently exists on the Board of Directors
(in the class of 1999). The Board may consider appointing a director to fill
this vacancy at a later date.

     The following table sets forth, as of February 1, 1998, certain
information with respect to each nominee for election as a director and each
director whose term of office will continue after the Meeting:



                                        
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        
                                                                              Present
                        Name, Age and                             Director      Term
                        Occupation(1)                              Since      Expires
                        -------------                              -----      -------

<S>                                                             <C>          <C>
Donald B. Belcher, 59                                             1997         1999
  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
  Officer (since 1995) of Banta Corporation, a printing and
  digital imaging company. Previously, Senior Group Vice
  President (1990-1994) of Avery Dennison Corporation, an
  office products company.
Jack Farber, 64                                                   1970         2000
  Chairman of the Board and President of CSS Industries,
  Inc., a diversified company.
William F. Hamilton, Ph.D., 58                                    1986         1998
  Landau Professor of Management and Technology, The
  Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Director of
  Centocor Inc., Neose Technologies, Inc., Marlton Technolo-
  gies, Inc. and Digital Lightwave, Inc.
 
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Present
                         Name, Age and                            Director       Term
                         Occupation(1)                              Since      Expires
                         -------------                              -----      -------

<S>                                                              <C>          <C>
Mary R. (Nina) Henderson, 47                                       1991         1998
  President, Bestfoods Grocery, a division of BESTFOODS,
  and Corporate Vice President, BESTFOODS, an interna-
  tional branded food Company. Director of The Equitable
  Companies Incorporated and The Equitable Life Assurance
  Society of the United States.
Gordon A. MacInnes, 56(2)                                          1970         2000
  Author and Member of New Jersey State Senate (1994 to
  1998).
Wilson D. McElhinny, 67                                            1993         1998
  Chairman of the Board of IREX Corporation, a specialty
  contract company (since 1992). Previously, Chairman, Presi-
  dent and Chief Executive Officer (1988-1990), and Chairman
  of Executive Committee (1983-1992), of Hamilton Bank.
Robert H. Rock, D.B.A., 47                                         1989         1999
  President of MLR Holdings, L.L.C., a publishing company
  which produces business publications, executive conferences
  and community newspapers. Director of R.P. Scherer Corpo-
  ration, Alberto-Culver Company and Quaker Chemical Co.
Roderic H. Ross, 67                                                1978         1998
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Key-
  stone State Life Insurance Company. Director of PNC Bank
  Corp. and Pennsylvania Manufacturers Corporation.
Donald L. Thompson, 56                                             1996         2000
  Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
  Company (since 1996). Previously, Group Vice President of
  the Office Products Business (1993-96), and Vice President
  Sales and Customer Operations North America (1992-93), of
  Avery Dennison Corporation, an office products Company.
Victoria B. Vallely, 47(2)                                         1976         1999
  Manager, Bartol Family Partnership, an investment partner-
  ship.
 
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(1) Except as otherwise noted, the named individuals have had the occupations
    indicated (other than directorships) for at least five years.

(2) Mr. MacInnes is married to Ms. Vallely's sister. Both Mrs. MacInnes and Ms.
    Vallely are daughters of the late George E. Bartol III, a former Chairman
    of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and principal shareholder of the
    Company.


                                       3
<PAGE>

Information Concerning Meetings and Certain Committees

     The Board of Directors held seven formal meetings during fiscal 1997. The
Company has standing Audit, Compensation, and Nominating Committees of its
Board of Directors. The Audit Committee members currently are Messrs. Farber,
Hamilton and McElhinny. This Committee makes recommendations to the Board of
Directors concerning the engagement, retention and discharge of independent
accountants, reviews with members of the Company's management and internal
auditors and with the Company's independent accountants the plans and results
of the auditing engagement, the Company's financial statements and the adequacy
of the Company's system of internal accounting controls, and directs any
investigations into matters within the scope of the foregoing duties. During
fiscal 1997, the Audit Committee met two times. The Compensation Committee
currently is composed of Messrs. Rock and Ross and Ms. Henderson. This
Committee establishes the salaries of executive officers and makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the adoption, extension,
amendment and termination of compensation plans in which officers or directors
may participate. It also exercises administrative powers pursuant to certain of
those plans. The Compensation Committee held five formal meetings during fiscal
1997. The members of the Nominating Committee currently are Messrs. Belcher,
MacInnes and Rock and Ms. Vallely. The primary purpose of this Committee, which
held three meetings during fiscal 1997, is to identify and recommend to the
Board qualified individuals to serve as directors of the Company. The
Nominating Committee has not determined whether it will consider nominees
recommended by shareholders.

     The Board of Directors also has an Executive Committee whose current
members are Messrs. MacInnes, Farber, Rock and Thompson. The Executive
Committee generally is empowered, subject to certain limitations, to exercise
the authority of the Board between Board meetings. The Board also, from time to
time, appoints special committees for specific purposes.

     During fiscal 1997, all directors attended in person or by conference
telephone at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the
Board of Directors and committees of the Board on which they served.

Compensation of Directors

     During fiscal 1997, the Company adopted the Non-Employee Director
Compensation Plan for non-officer directors of the Company. Pursuant to this
plan, the Company pays annual directors' fees of $5,000 in cash and $12,000 in
grants of Common Shares, plus cash of $1,000 for each Board meeting and $1,000
($1,250 for Committee Chairpersons) for each committee meeting attended, to
each of its non-officer directors. In addition, the plan provides for annual
grants to each non-officer director of non-qualified stock options to purchase
up to 2,000 Common Shares at the fair market value of such shares on the date
of grant, such options to vest after two years (subject to possible
acceleration) and to extend for 10 years (subject to possible earlier
termination). During fiscal 1997, options to purchase 1,000 Common Shares were
granted to each of the nine non-officer directors pursuant to this plan. As of
February 1, 1998, no such options had been exercised. In addition, the Company
reimburses
 

                                       4
<PAGE>

directors for certain expenses incurred in attending Board and committee
meetings. From time to time, the Company also compensates non-officer directors
for special services but did not do so in fiscal 1997.

     The non-officer directors also participate in the 1994 Non-Employee
Directors' Stock Option Plan. Pursuant to this plan, each of the then current
non-officer directors on January 26, 1994 received one-time automatic grants of
non-qualified stock options to purchase 5,000 Common Shares at an exercise
price of $16.875 per share, which was the fair market value of a Common Share
on the date of grant. Options granted under this plan extend for a term of ten
years (subject to earlier termination in certain circumstances) and become
exercisable at the rate of 20% per year over five years commencing one year
after the date of grant, subject to acceleration in limited circumstances.
During fiscal 1997, Mr. Belcher received a one-time automatic grant under this
plan of non-qualified stock options to purchase 5,000 Common Shares at an
exercise price of $18.6875 per share, which was the fair market value of a
Common Share on the date of grant. As of February 1, 1998, an aggregate of
3,000 options had been exercised under this plan.


           2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     The firm of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. served as the Company's independent
accountants for fiscal 1997 and has been selected by the Board of Directors to
serve in the same capacity for fiscal 1998. The shareholders will be asked to
ratify this appointment at the Meeting.

     A representative of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. is expected to be present at
the Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. The
representative will also have the opportunity to make a statement if he or she
desires to do so.


                                3. OTHER MATTERS

     The Board of Directors knows of no matters to be presented for action at
the Annual Meeting, other than those set forth in the attached Notice and
customary procedural matters. However, if any other matters should properly
come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof, the proxies solicited
hereby will be voted on such matters, to the extent permitted by the rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accordance with the judgment of the
persons voting such proxies.


                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Common Share Ownership by Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

     The following table sets forth, as of February 1, 1998, certain
information concerning the beneficial ownership of Common Shares by: (i) each
person who is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5%
of such shares, (ii) each director and nominee for director of the Company,
(iii) each of the executive officers of the Company named in the Summary
Compensation Table appearing later in this proxy statement, and (iv) all
directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Such information is
based upon information provided to the Company by such persons.


                                       5
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Common Shares           Percent
                  Name of Beneficial Owner                      Beneficially Owned(1)     of Class(1)
                  ------------------------                      ---------------------     -----------
<S>                                                            <C>                          <C>
Richard J. Bove ............................................         2,069,766(2)             18.4
 3700 Bell Atlantic Towers
 Philadelphia, PA 19103
Ariel Capital Management, Inc. .............................         1,635,530(3)             14.5
 307 North Michigan Avenue
 Chicago, IL 60601
Donald Belcher, director ...................................             1,800                  *
Jack Farber, director ......................................            13,281(4)               *
William F. Hamilton, director ..............................             7,821(4)(5)            *
Mary R. (Nina) Henderson, director .........................             4,721(4)               *
Gordon A. MacInnes, director ...............................           616,880(4)(6)           5.5
Wilson D. McElhinny, director ..............................             8,321(4)               *
Robert H. Rock, director ...................................             4,621(4)               *
Roderic H. Ross, director ..................................            10,796(4)               *
Donald L. Thompson, director and executive officer .........           182,000(8)              1.6
Victoria B. Vallely, director ..............................           117,054(4)(7)           1.0
John W. Carney, executive officer ..........................            77,486(9)               *
William E. Chandler, executive officer .....................            79,981(10)              *
Spencer W. O'Meara, executive officer ......................           137,837(11)              *
W. Ernest Precious, executive officer ......................           109,259(12)              *
All current directors and executive officers as a group
 (15 persons) ..............................................         1,417,955(13)       12.7
</TABLE>

- ---------------
*Less than 1%


(1) Except as otherwise indicated, the beneficial ownership of Common Shares
    reflected in this proxy statement is based upon sole voting and
    dispositive power with respect to such shares. Further, for the purposes
    of computing beneficial ownership and the percent of class of an
    individual, Common Shares which the individual has the right, upon
    exercise of options and in certain other circumstances, to acquire within
    60 days, are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the
    individual.

(2) Represents shares held by Mr. Bove as successor and sole trustee under four
    irrevocable trusts established by the late George E. Bartol III (a former
    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and principal shareholder
    of the Company) for the benefit of Mr. Bartol's four adult daughters.

(3) According to information supplied by Ariel: the reported shareholdings
    include 1,515,530 shares as to which Ariel has sole voting power and
    25,400 shares as to which Ariel has shared voting power; Ariel is a
    registered investment adviser; and all shares held by it are owned by its
    investment advisory clients, none of whom, to the knowledge of Ariel, owns
    more than 5% of the Company's Common Shares.

(4) Includes 4,000 shares which the named individual has the right to acquire
    by exercise of stock options under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock
    Option Plan.

                                       6
<PAGE>

(5) Includes 3,500 shares held jointly with his wife.

(6) Includes 532,293 shares as to which Mr. MacInnes has shared voting and
    dispositive power as co-trustee (with Katherine B. Lunt) of an irrevocable
    trust established by the late George E. Bartol III for the benefit of his
    grandchildren, and 74,529 shares held by Mr. MacInnes as custodian for his
    children. Does not include 159,840 shares beneficially owned by Mr.
    MacInnes' wife, the beneficial ownership of which shares is disclaimed by
    Mr. MacInnes. Mrs. Lunt and Mrs. MacInnes are daughters of the late George
    E. Bartol III.

(7) Includes 19,224 shares held jointly with her husband. Does not include an
    aggregate of 44,057 shares held by her husband as trustee or custodian for
    their children, the beneficial ownership of which shares is disclaimed by
    Ms. Vallely.

(8) Includes 175,000 shares which Mr. Thompson has the right to acquire by
    exercise of stock options.

(9) Includes 70,612 shares which Mr. Carney has the right to acquire by
    exercise of stock options. Does not include 9,000 shares held for his
    account in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

(10) Includes 76,497 shares which Mr. Chandler has the right to acquire by
     exercise of stock options. Does not include 12,000 shares held for his
     account in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

(11) Includes 115,781 shares which Mr. O'Meara has the right to acquire by
     exercise of stock options. Does not include 12,000 shares held for his
     account in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

(12) Includes 104,369 shares which Mr. Precious has the right to acquire by
     exercise of stock options. Does not include 12,000 shares held for his
     account in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

(13) Includes an aggregate of 617,516 shares which certain directors and
     current executive officers have the right to acquire by exercise of stock
     options. Does not include shares which are excluded in the notes above.

                           -------------------------

                                       7
<PAGE>

                            Executive Compensation

Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

     The Company's Compensation Committee (the "Committee") is composed of
three outside directors, none of whom has ever been an employee of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries. The Committee makes recommendations to the full
Board of Directors regarding the adoption, extension, amendment, and
termination of the Company's compensation plans and also administers certain of
these plans. The Committee also reviews in conjunction with the Company's
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") the performance of
other executive officers and establishes the salaries of the CEO and other
executive officers (subject to the terms of any employment agreements). The
Committee has provided the following report on executive compensation:

     The Committee has been guided by the following executive compensation
philosophy of the Company:


        1. Align the interests of shareholders and management through a
    compensation program that provides a substantial proportion of executive
    officers' total compensation in the form of Company shares and options.

        2. Make a significant portion of total compensation for executive
    officers contingent upon the attainment of demanding performance goals
    that support growth in the Company's share value over time.

        3. Balance the objectives of short-term earnings increases and
    investment in the long-term financial health of the Company with an
    incentive compensation program that rewards improved profit performance
    with annual cash bonuses and stimulates a long-term perspective through
    the granting of options to purchase Common Shares of the Company.

        4. Enable the Company to attract and retain superior management by
    providing a very competitive total compensation package.

     Executive compensation consists primarily of three components: base
salary, incentive compensation, and stock options/stock grants.


Base Salary


     The Company's policy generally has been to set base salaries for each
executive officer position at a level up to the seventy-fifth percentile when
compared to compensation survey data available for equivalent positions with
other industrial, bonus-paying employers. The Company uses compensation
studies, surveys and outside consultants to monitor the Company's competitive
executive compensation position and to recommend salary ranges and compensation
changes to the Committee. These studies may include but are not limited to the
peer group of companies used for the Shareholder Return Performance Graph
herein. The base salaries of executive officers other than the CEO are set by
the Compensation Committee with input from the CEO.


                                       8
<PAGE>

     The performance reviews of the executive officers other than the CEO are
conducted by the CEO, and the results of such reviews are reported to the
Committee by the CEO. The performance of the CEO is reviewed by the
Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors. The Committee adjusts
executive officers' salaries with input from the CEO based on the quality of
their individual performance and the relationship of their salary to their
established salary range. Merit increases in the form of a one-time payment (as
distinct from the annual bonuses) are granted under certain circumstances,
however no such merit increases were granted during fiscal 1997.

     The base salary of the CEO presently is set at $450,000 per year, subject
to adjustment, by his employment agreement. Adjustments to the base salary of
the CEO are governed by the same factors as other executive officers but also
specifically take into account the Company's current financial performance (as
measured by earnings, balance sheet strength, and overall financial soundness)
and the extent to which the CEO is successful in establishing a vision and
strategic plan for the Company and implementing that plan over time. The
Committee also considers the CEO's leadership in setting high standards for
financial performance, motivating management colleagues, and representing the
Company and its values to internal and external constituencies. These factors
are largely subjective in nature and are not specifically weighted.


Incentive Compensation

     The Company's incentive compensation program as in effect during fiscal
1997 had only an annual component. Under the annual program, bonuses were based
on achievement of a specific corporate operating profit (profit before taxes)
threshold which was established by the Committee with reference to the
Company's prior year's results and management's budget for the 1997 fiscal
year, achievement of specific business unit operating margin and achievement of
certain objectives for each individual executive. The maximum potential annual
bonus award for executive officers for fiscal 1997 was 40% to 50% of base
salary, depending on the executive's position. For fiscal 1997, an annual bonus
of up to 50% of base salary was earned and paid to all executive officers
(other than the CEO, Mr. Thompson). Mr. Thompson was paid a fixed minimum bonus
of $225,000 for fiscal 1997 pursuant to his employment agreement.


Stock Options/Stock Grants

     The Company's 1993 Stock Option and Stock Grant Plan provides for grants
by the Compensation Committee of incentive and/or non-qualified stock options,
as well as grants of stock, to executive officers and others, thus tying a
portion of executive compensation directly to the performance of the Company
stock. The exercise price of the stock options under the Plan (and predecessor
option plans) may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the
Company's stock on the date of grant. Stock options become exercisable at least
one year (usual practice has been two years) from the date of grant, subject to
possible acceleration in certain circumstances, and usually expire ten years
following the date of grant. Executive officers typically have


                                       9
<PAGE>

been granted stock options each year for a number of shares, the market value
of which shares on the date of grant has been in a range of 80% to 120% of the
executive officer's base salary. The Committee granted three years' worth of
options to executive officers in fiscal 1997 (which were intended to be largely
in lieu of grants to them during the next three fiscal years), in order to
compensate the executive officers for their efforts related to the Company's
restructuring and as part of the Committee's intention to have a greater
portion of executive officers' total compensation be based on stock options.

     The Compensation Committee is mindful of the potential impact upon the
Company of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), which prohibits public companies from deducting certain executive
remuneration in excess of $1,000,000. While reserving the right of the Company
to offer such compensation arrangements as may be from time-to-time necessary
to attract and retain top-quality management, the Compensation Committee
intends generally to structure such arrangements, where feasible, so as to
minimize or eliminate the impact of the limitations of Section 162(m) of the
Code.

February 13, 1998                    Compensation Committee:
                                          Robert H. Rock, Chairman
                                          Mary R. (Nina) Henderson
                                          Roderic H. Ross

                                       10
<PAGE>

Summary Compensation Table

     The following table sets forth certain information concerning the annual
and long-term compensation paid or accrued to or for: (i) the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and (ii) the Company's four most highly compensated other
executive officers whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000
(collectively, the "Named Officers") for services rendered to the Company and
its subsidiaries during fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Annual Compensation
                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Other
                                                                                                   Annual
                    Name and                                                      Bonus            Compen-
               Principal Position                  Year        Salary              (1)             sation
               ------------------                  ----        ------              ---             ------
                                                                 ($)               ($)               ($)
                                                          ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
<S>                                               <C>     <C>               <C>               <C>
Donald L. Thompson                                1997         450,000           225,000(6)             --
Chairman of the Board,                            1996         225,000(7)        300,000(7)        125,045(7)
President and Chief Executive Officer

William E. Chandler                               1997         213,200           105,001                --
Senior Vice President,                            1996         214,492            51,466                --
Finance; Chief Financial Officer and Secretary    1995         201,917            62,100                --

Spencer W. O'Meara                                1997         245,595           118,665                --
Executive Vice President,                         1996         239,023            59,431                --
Hunt Products                                     1995         207,604            65,490                --

W. Ernest Precious                                1997         215,816            98,139            44,908(8)
Executive Vice President,                         1996         205,233            51,987                --
Hunt Graphics                                     1995         178,400            53,520                --

John W. Carney                                    1997         164,565            63,423                --
Vice President, General Manager,                  1996         146,813            31,465                --
Substrates                                        1995         132,629            40,500                --
</TABLE>

                              (RESTUBBED TABLE)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Long-Term Compensation
                                                  -----------------------------------------
                                                              Awards               Payouts
                                                  ------------------------------  ---------
                                                   Restricted      Securities                 All Other
                                                      Stock        Underlying        LTIP      Compen-
                    Name and                         Awards         Options/       Payouts     sation
               Principal Position                      (2)          SARs (3)         (4)         (5)
               ------------------                      ---          --------         ---         ---

                                                       ($)             (#)           ($)         ($)
                                                  ------------  ----------------  ---------  ----------
<S>                                               <C>           <C>               <C>        <C>
Donald L. Thompson                                        --          62,500           --      11,250
Chairman of the Board,                                    --         350,000(7)        --       2,813
President and Chief Executive Officer

William E. Chandler                                       --         124,000           --       4,236
Senior Vice President,                                    --          18,145       26,278       4,707
Finance; Chief Financial Officer and Secretary       177,000          26,200       43,082       4,193

Spencer W. O'Meara                                        --         124,000           --       4,901
Executive Vice President,                                 --          24,829       20,469       4,972
Hunt Products                                        177,000          22,500       29,968       4,112

W. Ernest Precious                                        --         124,000           --       3,108
Executive Vice President,                                 --          19,417       17,554       4,025
Hunt Graphics                                        177,000          22,500       26,974       3,004

John W. Carney                                            --          89,000           --       3,096
Vice President, General Manager,                          --          12,127       11,523       3,076
Substrates                                           177,000          16,500       18,846       3,060
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


- ---------------
(1) Represents annual bonuses awarded under the Company's Incentive
    Compensation Program for the respective fiscal years, unless otherwise
    indicated.
(2) Represents the fair market value (based on the closing sales price of the
    Company's Common Shares on the date of grant) of stock grants for 12,000
    Common Shares awarded to each of Messrs. Chandler, O'Meara, Precious, and
    Carney under the 1993 Stock Option and Stock Grant Plan. The stock grants
    vested in full in early 1997, and the fair market value of 12,000 Common
    Shares as of the vesting date was $207,000. A cash bonus, equivalent to
    the amount of all dividends on the unvested shares under these stock
    grants, was paid during the vesting period.
(3) Represents shares underlying stock options unless otherwise indicated.
(4) Includes cash and Common Shares, valued using the share price on the date
    of vesting, paid in respect of performance units and performance shares
    awarded under the Company's 1988 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for
    the three year performance periods 1994-1996 and 1993-1995. The 1988 Plan
    was terminated in fiscal 1996, and participants received prorated awards
    under the plan.
(5) Includes contributions made by the Company under its 401(k) Savings Plan
    and premiums paid by the Company for group term life insurance coverage,
    unless otherwise indicated. Does not include contributions made by the
    Company with respect to the Pension Plan or, except for matching
    contributions, to the Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan (see "Pension
    Plans" below).


                                       11
<PAGE>

(6) The bonus of $225,000 paid to Mr. Thompson represents the minimum annual
    incentive pay for the 1997 fiscal year under the terms of his employment
    agreement.
(7) Mr. Thompson's fiscal 1996 salary was prorated for the portion of the year
    he was employed by the Company. His fiscal 1996 bonus was the minimum
    annual incentive pay for that year under the terms of his employment
    agreement. The other annual compensation includes reimbursement of $81,902
    of relocation expenses and $43,152 of related taxes. The securities
    underlying Mr. Thompson's options and SARs for fiscal 1996 include 175,000
    options granted on June 1, 1996 which became exercisable one year after
    the date of grant, as well as 175,000 SARs granted pursuant to Mr.
    Thompson's Phantom Stock Plan. The SARs vest at a rate of 25% per year
    commencing December 1, 1996, (See Aggregate Option/SAR Exercises in Fiscal
    1997 Table and the footnotes thereto below.)
(8) The other annual compensation includes reimbursement of $17,144 of
    relocation expenses, $13,652 of related taxes and $14,112 of compensation
    for relocation.


Stock Option/SAR Grants, Exercises and Holdings


     The following table sets forth certain information concerning stock
options and SARs granted to and exercised by the Named Officers during fiscal
1997 and unexercised stock options held by them at the end of fiscal 1997:


                        Option/SAR Grants in Fiscal 1997

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Individual Grants
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Number of      Percentage of                                                 Option
                                    Shares       Total Options     Exercise       Market                        Grant
                                  Underlying       Granted to       or Base      Price at                       Date
                                   Options        Employees in       Price      Grant Date     Expiration     Value (2)
Name                             Granted (1)      Fiscal 1997       ($/sh)        ($/sh)          Date           ($)
- -----------------------------   -------------   ---------------   ----------   ------------   ------------   ----------
<S>                             <C>             <C>                 <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>
Donald L. Thompson ..........       62,500              6%          18.625       18.625         04/16/07       308,750
William E. Chandler .........      124,000             11%          18.625       18.625         04/16/07       612,560
Spencer W. O'Meara ..........      124,000             11%          18.625       18.625         04/16/07       612,560
W. Ernest Precious ..........      124,000             11%          18.625       18.625         04/16/07       612,560
John W. Carney ..............       89,000              8%          18.625       18.625         04/16/07       439,660
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(1) All of the options were granted under the 1993 Stock Option and Stock Grant
    Plan on April 16, 1997 at fair market value and become exercisable three
    years from the date of grant, subject to possible acceleration in certain
    events. No SARs were granted in fiscal 1997.
(2) Based on the modified Black-Scholes extended binomial option valuation
    model adapted for use in valuing executive stock options. The estimated
    value under this model assumes: (i) an expected option term of five years,
    which represents the assumed average period from grant date of option to
    their exercise date, (ii) an interest rate that represents the interest
    rate on a U.S. Treasury bond with a maturity date corresponding to that of
    the adjusted option term, (iii) volatility calculated using monthly stock
    prices for the ten years prior to the grant date, and (iv) dividends at a
    rate of 2.29% based on the average dividends paid over the ten-year period
    prior to the grant date. The actual value, if any, an executive may realize
    will depend on the excess of the stock price over the exercise price on the
    date the option is exercised, so that there is no assurance the value
    realized will be at or near the value estimated by the model.


                                       12
<PAGE>

                 Aggregate Option/SAR Exercises in Fiscal 1997
                     and Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Number of Shares              Value of Unexercised
                                                             Underlying Unexercised         In-the-Money Options/SARs
                               Shares         Value          Options/SARs at FY-End               at FY-End(3)
                            Acquired on     Realized    --------------------------------  -----------------------------
           Name             Exercise(1)        (2)        Exercisable     Unexercisable    Exercisable    Unexercisable
                                (#)            ($)            (#)              (#)             ($)             ($)
     ---------------       -------------  ------------  ---------------  ---------------  -------------  --------------
<S>                        <C>            <C>           <C>              <C>              <C>            <C>
Donald L. Thompson ......        --           (4)            87,500(4)        87,500(4)     1,881,250      1,881,250
Donald L. Thompson ......        --           --            175,000           62,500          396,875        179,688
William E. Chandler .....        --           --             45,252          162,293          307,868        593,423
Spencer W. O'Meara ......       8,685       45,119           79,702          167,127          536,635        612,897
W. Ernest Precious ......       8,435       48,486           73,702          161,715          498,297        586,176
John W. Carney ..........      16,535      104,356           50,235          116,425          325,838        427,619
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(1) The information presented in this table is with respect to options, unless
    otherwise noted. All options reflected in this table were granted at fair
    market value under the Company's 1983 or 1993 Stock Option Plans.
(2) The value realized in the case of options is calculated by subtracting the
    exercise price from the fair market value of the shares underlying the
    options as of the exercise date.
(3) The value in the case of options is calculated by subtracting the exercise
    price from the fair market value of the securities underlying the options
    at November 30, 1997. There is no exercise price for Mr. Thompson's
    phantom stock/SARs. (See footnote (4) below.)
(4) Represents an aggregate of 175,000 shares of phantom stock/SARs which were
    granted to Mr. Thompson on June 1, 1996 pursuant to the terms of his
    employment agreement. (See "Employment and Severance Agreements and
    Arrangements" below.) These phantom shares/SARs vest at the rate of 25%
    per year commencing December 1, 1996. The fair market value of the 43,750
    shares of phantom stock/SARs that vested on December 1, 1996 was $771,094
    on that date. Upon his separation from the Company, Mr. Thompson will be
    entitled to receive, in monthly installments with interest, an aggregate
    amount equal to the number of such phantom shares/SARs as shall have
    vested, multiplied by the per share price of the Company's Common Shares
    as of the end of the month prior to his separation from the Company, plus
    an amount equal to the dividends which would have accrued on an equivalent
    number of Common Shares prior to his separation, minus any such dividend
    equivalent amounts as may previously have been distributed to him.

                                       13
<PAGE>

Pension Plans

     The following table sets forth the estimated annual retirement benefits
payable under the Company's Pension Plan and the retirement benefits portion of
the Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan (the "Supplemental Plan") to
participants in both Plans, assuming they retired at age 65 in fiscal 1998 with
the indicated levels of compensation and years of benefit service:




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Years of Service
              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remun-
eration           10           15           20           25           30           35        40 or More
- -----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
<S>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
$100,000       $ 20,000     $ 30,000     $ 40,000     $ 50,000     $ 55,000     $ 60,000     $ 60,000
 150,000       $ 30,000     $ 45,000     $ 60,000     $ 75,000     $ 82,500     $ 90,000     $ 90,000
 200,000       $ 40,000     $ 60,000     $ 80,000     $100,000     $110,000     $120,000     $120,000
 250,000       $ 50,000     $ 75,000     $100,000     $125,000     $137,500     $150,000     $150,000
 300,000       $ 60,000     $ 90,000     $120,000     $150,000     $165,000     $180,000     $180,000
 350,000       $ 70,000     $105,000     $140,000     $175,000     $192,500     $210,000     $210,000
 400,000       $ 80,000     $120,000     $160,000     $200,000     $220,000     $240,000     $240,000
 450,000       $ 90,000     $135,000     $180,000     $225,000     $247,500     $270,000     $270,000
 500,000       $100,000     $150,000     $200,000     $250,000     $275,000     $300,000     $300,000
 550,000       $110,000     $165,000     $220,000     $275,000     $302,500     $330,000     $330,000
 600,000       $120,000     $180,000     $240,000     $300,000     $330,000     $360,000     $360,000
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(1) For the 1997 Plan year, amounts of benefits in the above table exceeding
    $120,000 could not be paid under the Pension Plan but would be paid
    pursuant to the retirement benefits portion of the Supplemental Plan.

     As used in the above table, the term, "Remuneration" means covered
compensation (as defined below) averaged over a participant's highest five
consecutive calendar years out of the last ten calendar years of employment.
Covered compensation essentially means wages or salary, bonus, salary
reductions elected under the Company's Savings Plan, and any cash awards under
the Company's 1988 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (which terminated in
1996), except that, for the purposes of determining Remuneration under the
Pension Plan, but not the Supplemental Plan, only covered compensation not in
excess of limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code ($160,000 for the
Plan year which began October 1, 1997) may be taken into account. The covered
compensation of the Named Officers for fiscal 1997 was as follows: Mr. Thompson
- -- $686,250; Mr. Chandler -- $322,437; Mr. O'Meara -- $369,161; Mr. Precious --
$361,971; and Mr. Carney -- $231,084.

     The approximate present years of benefit service for the Named Officers
are as follows: Mr. Thompson -- 2 years; Mr. Chandler -- 5 years; Mr. O'Meara
- -- 18 years; Mr. Precious -- 20 years; and Mr. Carney -- 13 years. For purposes
of calculating benefits, a participant may not be credited with more than 40
years of service under the Pension Plan or 35 years of service under the
retirement benefits portion of the Supplemental Plan.


                                       14
<PAGE>

     Retirement benefits shown in the above table have been computed on a
single-life annuity basis and are not subject to any deduction for Social
Security or other offset amount.

     The Pension Plan generally covers employees (including executive officers
but excluding certain non-resident aliens) who are not covered by a collective
bargaining agreement. The Supplemental Plan, provides supplemental benefits
only to executive officers and other officers. The Supplemental Plan has an
elective salary deferral feature with a Company matching contribution of 25% of
an officer's elective deferral but not to exceed 6% of the officer's
compensation. The Company made matching contributions to this portion of the
Supplemental Plan for executive officers of $29,050 in fiscal 1997.


Employment and Severance Agreements and Arrangements

     In connection with his hiring as Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer by the Company in 1996, Donald L. Thompson and the Company entered into
an employment agreement for an initial term ending May 31, 1998 and continuing
thereafter from year to year until Mr. Thompson reaches the age of 65 or until
earlier terminated by either party. The agreement provides for an initial
annual base salary of $450,000 (subject to periodic review and possible
increase by the Compensation Committee), plus an annual incentive bonus under
the Company's incentive compensation program of up to a maximum of 70% of base
salary, but not to be less than $225,000 for fiscal 1997. Pursuant to the
agreement, Mr. Thompson was granted at the time his employment commenced: (i)
stock options under the Company's 1993 Stock Option and Stock Grant Plan for
175,000 Common Shares, and (ii) 175,000 shares of phantom stock/SARs. He also
is entitled to receive additional annual option grants of a value of up to 
2 1/2% of his base salary under some circumstances. The agreement further
provided for reimbursement of Mr. Thompson, on an after tax basis, for various
moving and relocation expenses in connection with his move from California to
Pennsylvania and entitles him to participate in most of the Company's benefit
plans and programs for executives. (See the Summary Compensation and Option/SAR
Grants in Fiscal 1997 Tables above for further information concerning Mr.
Thompson's compensation and benefits.)

     In the event of termination of his employment with the Company, Mr.
Thompson's entitlement to severance compensation and benefits varies depending
upon the circumstances and timing of such termination. If his employment were
terminated by reason of his death or disability, by the Company without cause,
or by him because of a material reduction in his authority or duties, he would
be entitled under the agreement to continuation of his base salary, bonus and
benefits for periods of from six months to two years following termination of
employment, and there would be acceleration of the vesting of certain of his
benefits, including his phantom stock. Should there be a change in control of
the Company (as defined in the agreement) and a termination of his employment
within two years thereafter, his entitlement to severance compensation and
benefits under the agreement would be essentially as provided in the change in
control agreements with other executive officers discussed in the following
paragraph, except that: (i) his severance allowance generally would be equal to
 


                                       15
<PAGE>

2.99 times his recent annual cash compensation; (ii) his life and health
insurance plans and certain other benefits would continue for up to three
years; and (iii) in the event of a change in control occurring prior to June 1,
1998, he would be entitled to additional payments sufficient, on an after tax
basis, to pay any excise tax imposed on such severance payments.

     Since 1990 the Company has had change in control agreements with executive
officers, as well as with other officers and certain key employees. These
agreements currently extend through December 31, 1999. Under the agreements
with executive officers, in the event of a change in control (as defined in the
agreements) of the Company, the agreements would become effective and would
provide for the executive officers' continued employment by the Company,
generally for a period of two years following the change in control and
generally at not less than their recent compensation and benefit levels. If
within such two-year period an executive officer's employment is terminated by
the Company without cause or if such executive officer resigns in certain
specified circumstances, then the executive officer generally is entitled to
the payment of a severance allowance equal to approximately twice his or her
recent annual cash compensation level (including cash amounts earned under
incentive compensation plans) and to the continuation of life and health
insurance plans and certain other benefits for up to two years following such
termination of employment. Mr. Thompson does not have a separate change in
control agreement, but his employment agreement contains similar provisions, as
described in the preceding paragraph.


                                       16
<PAGE>

                      Shareholder Return Performance Graph

     The following graph compares for fiscal years 1993 through 1997 the yearly
change in the cumulative total return to holders of Common Shares of the
Company with the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's Composite --
500 Index (the "S&P 500") and of an index of peer group companies selected by
the Company (the "Peer Group").

  275 -------------------------------------------------------------------------


  250 ---------------------------------------------------------------------#+-


D 225 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
O
L
L 200--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A                                                             #
R                                                             +
S 175 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            *

  150 ------------------------------------------#------------------------------
                                                +
                                                             *
  125 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     +             +            *
                    *#             *#
  100*#+-----------------------------------------------------------------------


   75 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
     1992          1993          1994          1995          1996          1997
                                 FISCAL YEAR

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    * = Hunt Corportation    # = S&P 500 Index    + = Peer Group Index
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          1992     1993     1994      1995     1996     1997
                          ----     ----     ----      ----     ----     ----
Hunt Corporation          100     114.36   107.68    115.35   138.93   172.76
S&P 500 Index             100     110.10   111.25    152.39   194.85   250.41
Peer Group Index          100     118.69   118.74    145.65   189.24   243.65

     The Company elected to use the Peer Group Index rather than a published
industry or line of business index because the Company is not aware of any such
published index which it believes is as appropriate for comparative cumulative
total return purposes. The Peer Group consists of 20 publicly-held companies of
various sizes.(1) Although none of these Peer Group companies is directly
comparable with the Company in terms of all businesses engaged in, there are
similarities in respect of certain products offered, specific lines of business
and/or channels of distribution. For the purposes of the Peer Group Index, the
Peer Group companies including the Company

- ---------------
(1) The Peer Group consists of Acme United Corporation; American Business
    Products Inc.; Aspen Imaging International Inc.; Avery Dennison
    Corporation; Bush Industries Inc.; A.T. Cross Company; Dixon Ticonderoga
    Company; Duplex Products Inc.; Ennis Business Forms Inc.; General Binding
    Corporation; Herman Miller Inc.; HON Industries; Moore Corporation
    Limited; Nashua Corporation; Paris Business Forms Inc.; S L Industries
    Inc.; Shelby Williams Industries Inc.; Tab Products Co.; Virco Mfg.
    Corporation; and Zero Corporation.


                                       17
<PAGE>

have been weighted based upon their relative market capitalizations. In
calculating the value of a given index, the returns of the individual Peer
Group companies and the Company are weighted according to their market
capitalization as of the beginning of each period for which a return is
indicated. In future years, the Company may utilize another published index,
rather than the Peer Group Index, if an appropriate published index can be
found.

     The above graph assumes that the value of the investment in Hunt
Corporation, the S&P Composite--500 Index companies and the Peer Group Index
companies was $100 on November 30, 1992, and that all dividends were
reinvested. The performance as reported above provides no assurances that this
performance will continue in the future.


            Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's directors and executive officers, as well as persons beneficially
owning more than 10% of the Company's Common Shares and certain other holders
of such shares (collectively, "Covered Persons") to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, within specified time
periods, initial reports of ownership, and subsequent reports of changes in
ownership, of Common Shares and other equity securities of the Company.

     Based solely upon the Company's review of copies of such reports furnished
to it and upon representations of Covered Persons that no other reports were
required, to the Company's knowledge all of the Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to Covered Persons were complied with on a timely basis
in fiscal 1997 except as follows: (i) Messrs. Belcher and MacInnes and Ms.
Vallely, directors of the Company, inadvertently were late in filing their
Forms 5 for the year with respect to one transaction -- the receipt by each of
321 Common Shares pursuant to the Company's 1997 Non-Employee Director
Compensation Plan, and (ii) John Fanelli III, Vice President and Chief
Accounting Officer of the Company, inadvertently failed on two occasions to
file required Forms 4 -- with respect to his exercise of a stock option granted
under a Rule 16b-3 option plan of the Company and to his sale of stock in a
subsequent month (both of which transactions subsequently were reported by Mr.
Fanelli on a Form 5).


                            Solicitation of Proxies

     The cost of soliciting the proxies will be paid by the Company. Directors,
officers and employees of the Company may solicit proxies in person, or by
mail, telephone or telegraph, but no such person will be specially compensated
for such services. The Company will request banks, brokers and other nominees
to forward proxy materials to beneficial owners of stock held of record by them
and will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so
doing.


                             Shareholder Proposals

     In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials for
the 1999 Annual Meeting, shareholders' proposals to take action at such meeting
must comply


                                       18
<PAGE>

with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, must
be directed to the Secretary of the Company at its offices set forth on page 1
of this proxy statement, and must be received by the Company not later than
November 16, 1998.


                                 Miscellaneous

     A copy of the Company's fiscal 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders is also
enclosed but is not to be regarded as proxy solicitation material.

     The Company, upon request, will furnish to record and beneficial holders
of its Common Shares, free of charge, a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K
(including financial statements and schedules but without exhibits) for fiscal
1997. Copies of exhibits to the Form 10-K also will be furnished upon request
and the payment of a reasonable fee. All requests should be directed to the
Secretary of the Company at the offices of the Company set forth on page 1 of
this proxy statement.

                                     By order of the Board of Directors,




                                     WILLIAM E. CHANDLER, Secretary

March 2, 1998

                                       19





<PAGE>
                               HUNT CORPORATION
               PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - APRIL 15, 1998

      The undersigned hereby appoint(s) Donald L. Thompson and William E.
Chandler, or any of them, with full power of substitution, proxies to vote,
as designated on the reverse side of this proxy card, all the Common Shares of
Hunt Corporation held of record by the undersigned on February 13, 1998, at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 15, 1998, and at any
adjournments thereof.

            (Continued, and to be dated and signed, on other side)

<PAGE>

    ----- Please mark your
A     X   votes as in this example.
    ----- example.

             AUTHORITY GRANTED
         to vote for all nominees      
         (except as marked to the   AUTHORITY
              contrary below)       WITHHELD
(1) ELECTION     /  /                /  /   Nominees: William F. Hamilton, Ph.D.
    OF                                                Mary R. (Nina) Henderson
    DIRECTORS                                         Wilson D. McElhinny
                                                      Roderic H. Ross

If you wish to withhold authority to vote for one
or more but less than all of the nominees named at
right, or to cumulate your votes for any such
nominee(s), so indicate on the line provided below.

- ---------------------------------------------------


                                                       FOR    AGAINST  ABSTAIN
(2) Ratification of the appointment of Coopers &       /  /     /  /    /  /
    Lybrand L.L.P. as the independent accountants
    of the Company for fiscal 1998;

(3) and, to the extent permitted by the Rules of the Securities and Exchange
    Commission, upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting
    and any adjournments thereof.

     This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed
herein by the undersigned. If no contrary direction is made, this proxy will
be voted FOR the nominee listed in Item 1 at left (in equal amounts or
cumulatively, as the proxies may determine) or, if any such nominee(s) should
be unable to serve, for such other person(s) as may be recommended by the
Board of Directors; FOR the proposal set forth in Item 2 and in accordance with
the proxies' best judgment upon other matters properly coming before the 
meeting and any adjournments thereof.



SIGNATURE            DATED      , 1998   SIGNATURE           DATED      , 1998
         ------------     ------                  -----------     ------
                                          (SIGNATURE IF HELD JOINTLY)

NOTE: Please date and sign exactly as your name appears herein. In case of 
joint holders, each should sign. If the signer is a corporation or
partnership, sign in full the corporate or partnership name by an authorized
officer or partner. When signing as attorney, executor, trustee, officer,
partner etc. give full title.



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