Registration No. 333- _________
                                                                      
                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, DC  20549
                        __________________________

                                FORM S-8

                         REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                 UNDER
                        THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                        __________________________

                    New England Business Service, Inc.
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
      Delaware                                04-2942374
(State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)             Identification No)
                              500 Main Street
                        Groton, Massachusetts  01471
                  (Address of principal executive offices)

  401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service, Inc.
                      (Full Title of the Plan)

                           John F. Fairbanks
                   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
                    New England Business Service, Inc.
                            500 Main Street
                      Groton, Massachusetts  01471
                  (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                           (508) 448-6111
   (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                   Copies of all communications to:

                        Terrence W. Mahoney, Esq.
                 Hill & Barlow, a Professional Corporation
                         One International Place
                        Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                             (617) 428-3000
                                                                      
<PAGE>
                    CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
                    -------------------------------

   Title of        Amount to be     Proposed        Proposed        Amount of
Securities to be    Registered      Maximum         Maximum       Registration
  Registered                     Offering Price     Aggregate         Fee
                                   Per Share*     Offering Price*
----------------   ------------  --------------   --------------- ------------
Common Stock
 ($1.00 par
  value)             450,000         $29.625      $13,331,250.00   $4,039.77


*Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.  
This amount was calculated pursuant to Rule 457 upon the basis of 
the average of the high and low prices of the registrant's Common 
Stock as reported in the consolidated reporting system of the New 
York Stock Exchange on July 28, 1997.

     If, as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar 
transactions, the number of securities purported to be registered on 
this registration statement changes, the provisions of Rule 416 shall 
apply to this registration statement and this registration statement 
shall be deemed to cover the additional securities resulting from the 
split of, or the dividend on, the securities covered by this 
registration statement.

     In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c), this registration statement 
covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold 
pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.


<PAGE>


                                PART II

           INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
              ---------------------------------------

     The following documents have been filed by the Company with the 
Commission (File No. 1-11427) and are incorporated herein by 
reference:  (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
fiscal year ended June 29, 1996;  (ii) the Annual Report on Form 11-K 
of the 401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service, Inc. 
(the "Plan") for the fiscal year ended June 29, 1996, filed on June 
12, 1997;  (iii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the 
quarters ended September 28, 1996, December 28, 1996 and March 29, 
1997; (iv)  the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed or 
amended on September 20, 1996, October 31, 1996, April 15, 1997 and 
June 13, 1997; and (v) the description of the Company's capital stock 
contained in the Company's Registration Statement under Section 12(b) 
of the Exchange Act on Form 8-A, filed on October 31, 1977, including 
any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such 
description.  All reports and other documents filed by the Company 
after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, before the filing of a post-
effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby 
have been sold, or which deregisters all securities then remaining 
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to 
be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such report or 
document.

     Item 4.  Description of Securities.
              -------------------------

     Not applicable.

     Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
              --------------------------------------

     Not applicable.

     Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
              -----------------------------------------

     Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of 
Delaware provides for indemnification of officers and directors 
subject to certain limitations.  The general effect of such law is to 
empower a corporation to indemnify any of its officers and directors 
against certain expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines 
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the 
person to be indemnified in connection with certain actions, suits or 
<PAGE>
proceedings (threatened, pending or completed) if the person to be 
indemnified acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed 
to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation 
and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, if he had no 
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The Company's 
by-laws provide that it shall indemnify its officers and directors to 
the extent permitted by law.
     The Company maintains insurance under which the insurers will 
reimburse the Company for amounts which it has paid to its directors, 
officers and certain other employees by way of indemnification for 
claims against such persons in their official capacities.  The 
insurance also covers such persons as to amounts paid by them as a 
result of claims against them in their official capacities which are 
not reimbursed by the Company.  The insurance is subject to certain 
limitations and exclusions.
     Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
              -----------------------------------

     Not applicable.

     Item 8.  Exhibits.
              --------

     See Exhibit Index.

     The registrant will submit or has submitted the Plan and any 
amendment thereto to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") in a timely 
manner and has made or will make all changes required by the IRS in 
order to qualify the Plan.

     Item 9.  Undertakings.
              ------------

     A.  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales 
are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration 
statement:

             (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events 
arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the 
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or 
<PAGE>
in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information 
set forth in the registration statement; 

               (iii)  To include any material information with respect 
to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the 
registration statement or any material change to such information in 
the registration statement.

          Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not 
apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective 
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed 
with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to 
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

           (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability 
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment 
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the 
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at 
that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering 
thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-
effective amendment any of the securities being registered which 
remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

     B.  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for 
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 
1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to 
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 
and each filing of the Plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that is incorporated by 
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new 
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and 
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the 
initial bona fide offering thereof.



      C.  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and 
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing 
provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the 
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification 
is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, 
unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against 
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses 
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the 
registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or 
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling 
<PAGE>
person in connection with the securities being registered, the 
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has 
been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of 
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by 
it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be 
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                              SIGNATURES
                              ----------

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that 
its meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly 
caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Groton, 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on July 28, 1997.

                                 NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.


                                 By: /s/ John F. Fairbanks
                                     ---------------------------------
                                     John F. Fairbanks, Vice President,
                                     Chief Financial Officer


<PAGE>

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

     Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and 
appoints Robert J. Murray, John F. Fairbanks and Terrence W. Mahoney, 
and each of them singly, as his lawful attorneys with full power to 
them and each of them singly to sign for him in his name in the 
capacity indicated below this registration statement on Form S-8 (and 
any and all amendments thereto), hereby ratifying and confirming his 
signature as it may be signed by his said attorneys to this 
registration statement (and any and all amendments hereto).

	Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this 
registration statement on Form S-8 has been signed below by the 
following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

        Signature               Title                       Date
        ---------               -----                       ----

/s/ Robert J. Murray
---------------------  Chairman, President
Robert J. Murray        Chief Executive Officer
                        (principal executive officer),
                        Director                        July 28, 1997

/s/ John F. Fairbanks
---------------------   Vice President, Chief
John F. Fairbanks       Financial Officer (principal
                        accounting officer)             July 28, 1997

/s/ Peter A. Brooke
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Peter A. Brooke

/s/ Robert L. Gable
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Robert L. Gable

/s/ Benjamin H. Lacy
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Benjamin H. Lacy

/s/ Herbert W. Moller
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Herbert W. Moller

/s/ Jay R. Rhoads, Jr.
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Jay R. Rhoads, Jr.
<PAGE>
/s/ Richard H. Rhoads
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Richard H. Rhoads

/s/ Brian E. Stern
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Brian E. Stern
<PAGE>


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service, Inc. has 
duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by 
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Groton, 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on July 28, 1997.

     The 401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service, 
Inc. and each person whose signature appears below constitutes and 
appoints Robert J. Murray, John F. Fairbanks and Terrence W. Mahoney, 
and each of them singly, as its or his lawful attorneys with full 
power to them and each of them singly to sign for it or him in its or 
his name in the capacity indicated below this registration statement 
on Form S-8 (and any and all amendments thereto), hereby ratifying and 
confirming its or his signature as it may be signed by its or his said 
attorneys to this registration statement (and any and all amendments 
hereto).

                              401(k) PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES OF
                              NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.


                              By: /s/ Robert J. Murray
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  Robert J. Murray
                                  Member of the Committee administering
                                  the 401(k) Plan for Employees of 
                                  New England Business Service, Inc.


                              By: /s/ Robert H. Glaudel
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  Robert H. Glaudel
                                  Member of the Committee administering
                                  the 401(k) Plan for Employees of 
                                  New England Business Service, Inc.


                              By: /s/ John F. Fairbanks
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  John F. Fairbanks
                                  Member of the Committee administering
                                  the 401(k) Plan for Employees of 
                                  New England Business Service, Inc.

<PAGE>

                              EXHIBIT INDEX
                              -------------

     Certain of the following exhibits (those marked with an asterisk) 
are filed herewith.  The remainder of the exhibits have heretofore 
been filed with the Commission and are incorporated herein by 
reference.  Inapplicable items have been omitted.
Exhibit                          Title
-------                          -----

  4.1     Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by
          reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
          October 31, 1986).

  4.2     Certificate of Merger of New England Business Service, Inc.
          (a Massachusetts corporation) and the Company, dated
          October 24, 1986, amending the Certificate of Incorporation
          of the Company by adding Articles 14 and 15 thereto
          (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report
          on Form 8-K dated October 31, 1986).

  4.3     Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of
          Series A Participating Preferred Stock of the Company, dated
          October 27, 1989 (incorporated by reference to the Company's
          Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          June 30, 1995, filed September 15, 1995).

  4.4     By-Laws of the Company, as amended (incorporated by
          reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
          the quarterly period ended December 31, 1995, filed
          February 8, 1996).

  4.5     Specimen stock certificate for shares of Common Stock, par
          value $1.00 per share, of the Company (incorporated by
          reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
          the fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, filed September 15,
          1995).

  4.6     Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of
          October 27, 1989 as amended as of October 20, 1994, between
          the Company and The First National Bank of Boston, National
          Association, as rights agent, including as Exhibit B the
          forms of Rights Certificate Election to Exercise
          (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 of the Company's
          Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 25, 1994).

  5.1*    Opinion of Hill & Barlow, a Professional Corporation.
<PAGE>
  23.1*   Consent of Hill & Barlow, a Professional Corporation
          (included in Exhibit 5.1).

  23.2*   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

  24.1*   Power of Attorney (included above at page II-4).

  99.1*   401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service,
          Inc., as amended by the board of directors on April 25,
          1997.

<PAGE>
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Registration No. 333- _________
                                                                      
                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, DC  20549
                        __________________________

                                FORM S-8

                         REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                 UNDER
                        THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                        __________________________

                    New England Business Service, Inc.
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
      Delaware                                04-2942374
(State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)             Identification No)
                              500 Main Street
                        Groton, Massachusetts  01471
                  (Address of principal executive offices)

  401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service, Inc.
                      (Full Title of the Plan)

                           John F. Fairbanks
                   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
                    New England Business Service, Inc.
                            500 Main Street
                      Groton, Massachusetts  01471
                  (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                           (508) 448-6111
   (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                   Copies of all communications to:

                        Terrence W. Mahoney, Esq.
                 Hill & Barlow, a Professional Corporation
                         One International Place
                        Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                             (617) 428-3000
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
                    -------------------------------

   Title of        Amount to be     Proposed        Proposed        Amount of
Securities to be    Registered      Maximum         Maximum       Registration
  Registered                     Offering Price     Aggregate         Fee
                                   Per Share*     Offering Price*
----------------   ------------  --------------   --------------- ------------
Common Stock
 ($1.00 par
  value)             450,000         $29.625      $13,331,250.00   $4,039.77

*Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.  
This amount was calculated pursuant to Rule 457 upon the basis of 
the average of the high and low prices of the registrant's Common 
Stock as reported in the consolidated reporting system of the New 
York Stock Exchange on July 28, 1997.

     If, as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar 
transactions, the number of securities purported to be registered on 
this registration statement changes, the provisions of Rule 416 shall 
apply to this registration statement and this registration statement 
shall be deemed to cover the additional securities resulting from the 
split of, or the dividend on, the securities covered by this 
registration statement.

     In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c), this registration statement 
covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold 
pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.
PART II

           INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
              ---------------------------------------

     The following documents have been filed by the Company with the 
Commission (File No. 1-11427) and are incorporated herein by 
reference:  (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
fiscal year ended June 29, 1996;  (ii) the Annual Report on Form 11-K 
of the 401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service, Inc. 
(the "Plan") for the fiscal year ended June 29, 1996, filed on June 
12, 1997;  (iii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the 
quarters ended September 28, 1996, December 28, 1996 and March 29, 
1997; (iv)  the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed or 
amended on September 20, 1996, October 31, 1996, April 15, 1997 and 
June 13, 1997; and (v) the description of the Company's capital stock 
contained in the Company's Registration Statement under Section 12(b) 
of the Exchange Act on Form 8-A, filed on October 31, 1977, including 
any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such 
description.  All reports and other documents filed by the Company 
after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, before the filing of a post-
effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby 
have been sold, or which deregisters all securities then remaining 
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to 
be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such report or 
document.

     Item 4.  Description of Securities.
              -------------------------

     Not applicable.

     Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
              --------------------------------------

     Not applicable.

     Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
              -----------------------------------------

     Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of 
Delaware provides for indemnification of officers and directors 
subject to certain limitations.  The general effect of such law is to 
empower a corporation to indemnify any of its officers and directors 
against certain expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines 
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the 
person to be indemnified in connection with certain actions, suits or
proceedings (threatened, pending or completed) if the person to be 
indemnified acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed 
to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation 
and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, if he had no 
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The Company's 
by-laws provide that it shall indemnify its officers and directors to 
the extent permitted by law.
     The Company maintains insurance under which the insurers will 
reimburse the Company for amounts which it has paid to its directors, 
officers and certain other employees by way of indemnification for 
claims against such persons in their official capacities.  The 
insurance also covers such persons as to amounts paid by them as a 
result of claims against them in their official capacities which are 
not reimbursed by the Company.  The insurance is subject to certain 
limitations and exclusions.
     Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
              -----------------------------------

     Not applicable.

     Item 8.  Exhibits.
              --------

     See Exhibit Index.

     The registrant will submit or has submitted the Plan and any 
amendment thereto to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") in a timely 
manner and has made or will make all changes required by the IRS in 
order to qualify the Plan.

     Item 9.  Undertakings.
              ------------

     A.  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales 
are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration 
statement:

             (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events 
arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the 
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information 
set forth in the registration statement; 

               (iii)  To include any material information with respect 
to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the 
registration statement or any material change to such information in 
the registration statement.

          Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not 
apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective 
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed 
with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to 
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

           (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability 
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment 
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the 
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at 
that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering 
thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-
effective amendment any of the securities being registered which 
remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

     B.  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for 
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 
1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to 
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 
and each filing of the Plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that is incorporated by 
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new 
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and 
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the 
initial bona fide offering thereof.

      C.  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and 
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing 
provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the 
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification 
is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, 
unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against 
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses 
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the 
registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or 
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the 
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has 
been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of 
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by 
it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be 
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                              SIGNATURES
                              ----------

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that 
its meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly 
caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Groton, 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on July 28, 1997.

                                 NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.

                                 By: /s/ John F. Fairbanks
                                     ---------------------------------
                                     John F. Fairbanks, Vice President,
                                     Chief Financial Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
                          -----------------

     Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and 
appoints Robert J. Murray, John F. Fairbanks and Terrence W. Mahoney, 
and each of them singly, as his lawful attorneys with full power to 
them and each of them singly to sign for him in his name in the 
capacity indicated below this registration statement on Form S-8 (and 
any and all amendments thereto), hereby ratifying and confirming his 
signature as it may be signed by his said attorneys to this 
registration statement (and any and all amendments hereto).

	Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this 
registration statement on Form S-8 has been signed below by the 
following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

        Signature               Title                       Date
        ---------               -----                       ----

/s/ Robert J. Murray
---------------------  Chairman, President
Robert J. Murray        Chief Executive Officer
                        (principal executive officer),
                        Director                        July 28, 1997

/s/ John F. Fairbanks
---------------------   Vice President, Chief
John F. Fairbanks       Financial Officer (principal
                        accounting officer)             July 28, 1997

/s/ Peter A. Brooke
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Peter A. Brooke

/s/ Robert L. Gable
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Robert L. Gable

/s/ Benjamin H. Lacy
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Benjamin H. Lacy

/s/ Herbert W. Moller
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Herbert W. Moller

/s/ Jay R. Rhoads, Jr.
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Jay R. Rhoads, Jr.
/s/ Richard H. Rhoads
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Richard H. Rhoads

/s/ Brian E. Stern
----------------------  Director                        July 28, 1997
Brian E. Stern
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service, Inc. has 
duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by 
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Groton, 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on July 28, 1997.

     The 401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service, 
Inc. and each person whose signature appears below constitutes and 
appoints Robert J. Murray, John F. Fairbanks and Terrence W. Mahoney, 
and each of them singly, as its or his lawful attorneys with full 
power to them and each of them singly to sign for it or him in its or 
his name in the capacity indicated below this registration statement 
on Form S-8 (and any and all amendments thereto), hereby ratifying and 
confirming its or his signature as it may be signed by its or his said 
attorneys to this registration statement (and any and all amendments 
hereto).

                              401(k) PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES OF
                              NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.

                              By: /s/ Robert J. Murray
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  Robert J. Murray
                                  Member of the Committee administering
                                  the 401(k) Plan for Employees of 
                                  New England Business Service, Inc.

                              By: /s/ Robert H. Glaudel
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  Robert H. Glaudel
                                  Member of the Committee administering
                                  the 401(k) Plan for Employees of 
                                  New England Business Service, Inc.

                              By: /s/ John F. Fairbanks
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  John F. Fairbanks
                                  Member of the Committee administering
                                  the 401(k) Plan for Employees of 
                                  New England Business Service, Inc.
EXHIBIT INDEX
                              -------------

     Certain of the following exhibits (those marked with an asterisk) 
are filed herewith.  The remainder of the exhibits have heretofore 
been filed with the Commission and are incorporated herein by 
reference.  Inapplicable items have been omitted.
Exhibit                          Title
-------                          -----

  4.1     Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by
          reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
          October 31, 1986).

  4.2     Certificate of Merger of New England Business Service, Inc.
          (a Massachusetts corporation) and the Company, dated
          October 24, 1986, amending the Certificate of Incorporation
          of the Company by adding Articles 14 and 15 thereto
          (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report
          on Form 8-K dated October 31, 1986).

  4.3     Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of
          Series A Participating Preferred Stock of the Company, dated
          October 27, 1989 (incorporated by reference to the Company's
          Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          June 30, 1995, filed September 15, 1995).

  4.4     By-Laws of the Company, as amended (incorporated by
          reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
          the quarterly period ended December 31, 1995, filed
          February 8, 1996).

  4.5     Specimen stock certificate for shares of Common Stock, par
          value $1.00 per share, of the Company (incorporated by
          reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
          the fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, filed September 15,
          1995).

  4.6     Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of
          October 27, 1989 as amended as of October 20, 1994, between
          the Company and The First National Bank of Boston, National
          Association, as rights agent, including as Exhibit B the
          forms of Rights Certificate Election to Exercise
          (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 of the Company's
          Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 25, 1994).

  5.1*    Opinion of Hill & Barlow, a Professional Corporation.
23.1*   Consent of Hill & Barlow, a Professional Corporation
          (included in Exhibit 5.1).

  23.2*   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

  24.1*   Power of Attorney (included above at page II-4).

  99.1*   401(k) Plan for Employees of New England Business Service,
          Inc., as amended by the board of directors on April 25,
          1997.