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                                                                     Exhibit 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

                  KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Glenn P. Dickes, Joram C. Salig and Barry F.
Schwartz or any of them ' each acting alone, his true and lawful
attorney-infact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, in connection with the M & F
WORLDWIDE CORP. (the "Corporation") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1997 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to sign the Form
10-K in the name and on behalf of the Corporation or on behalf of the
undersigned as a director or officer of the Corporation, and any amendments to
the Form 10-K and any instrument, contract, document or other writing, of or in
connection with the Form 10-K or amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, including
this power of attorney, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any
applicable securities exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting
unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the unde as signed these presents this
21st day of January 1998.



                                                 /s/ Paul M. Meister
                                                 -------------------

                                                 /s/ Ronald O. Perelman
                                                 ----------------------

                                                 /s/ Jaymie A. Durnan
                                                 --------------------

                                                 /s/ Irwin Engelman
                                                 ------------------

                                                 /s/ Theo W. Folz
                                                 ----------------

                                                 /s/ Howard Gittis
                                                 -----------------

                                                 /s/ J. Eric Hanson
                                                 ------------------

                                                 /s/ E. Gregory Hookstratten
                                                 ---------------------------

                                                 /s/ Lance Liebman
                                                 -----------------

                                                 /s/ James G. Roche
                                                 ------------------

                                                 /s/ Bruce Slovin
                                                 ----------------

                                                 /s/ Laurence Winoker
                                                 --------------------