Exhibit 11
                                  
                       JAMES RIVER CORPORATION
                    of Virginia and Subsidiaries
                  COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
      For the Quarters Ended March 30, 1997 and March 31, 1996
                (in millions, except per share data)
                                  
                                        First Quarter
PRIMARY                               1997         1996
                                                       
Net earnings applicable                                
    to common shares                 $32.9         $5.8
========================================================
Weighted average number of                             
  common shares and common share                             
  equivalents:                                        
                                                       
Common shares outstanding             86.3         85.0
                                                       
Issuable upon exercise of out-                         
   standing stock options and                          
   pursuant to a deferred stock
   award plan                          3.4          2.0
                                                       
Less assumed acquisition of                            
   common shares, using proceeds
   from stock options and a defer-
   red stock award plan, under the
   treasury stock method              (2.5)        (1.5)
                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------

                                      87.2         85.5
========================================================
Primary earnings 
per common share                      $.38         $.07
<PAGE>
                                 
Exhibit 11 (continued)
                                  
                       JAMES RIVER CORPORATION
                    of Virginia and Subisdiaries
                  COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
      For the Quarters Ended March 30, 1997 and March 31, 1996
                (in millions, except per share data)
                                  
                                        First Quarter
FULLY DILUTED                         1997         1996
                                                       
Net earnings applicable                                
    to common shares                 $32.9         $5.8
========================================================
Weighted average number of                             
  common shares and common share                             
  equivalents:                                        
                                                       
Common shares outstanding             86.3         85.0
                                                       
Issuable upon exercise of out-                         
   standing stock options and                          
   pursuant to a deferred stock
   award plan                          3.4          2.0
                                                       
Less assumed acquisition of                            
   common shares, using proceeds
   from stock options and a defer-
   red stock award plan, under the
   treasury stock method              (2.5)        (1.5)
                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------

                                      87.2         85.5
========================================================
Fully diluted earnings
 per common share                     $.38         $.07         
<PAGE>

Exhibit 11 (continued)
                                  
                       JAMES RIVER CORPORATION
                    of Virginia and Subisdiaries
                  NOTES TO COMPUTATIONS OF EARNINGS
                              PER SHARE


      Primary  earnings per common share is computed by dividing  net
income, after deducting dividends on outstanding preferred shares, by
the  weighted  average number of common shares  and  dilutive  common
share  equivalents  outstanding  during  the  period.   Common  share
equivalents consist of shares issuable pursuant to stock options  and
a  deferred  stock  award plan, and are calculated using  an  average
market price for the period.

      Fully  diluted earnings per common share is computed using  the
same  method  as for the primary computation except that  (i)  common
share  equivalents are computed using the higher of the market  price
at  the end of the period or the average market price for the period,
and  (ii)  the  average number of common shares and  dilutive  common
share equivalents outstanding is increased by the assumed conversion,
if  dilutive, of the Company's Series K $3.375 Cumulative Convertible
Exchangeable   Preferred  Stock,  its  Series  L  $14.00   Cumulative
Convertible  Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock,  its  Series  N   $14.00
Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock, and its Series P
9%  Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.  No conversions of any of
the  convertible preferred stocks have been assumed for  the  periods
presented, as such conversions are not dilutive.