Photoelectric magnitudes and color indices in the Vilnius seven-color system for 152 stars are used to investigate the interstellar extinction in the area of the Aries molecular cloud MBM 12, coinciding with the L1454 and L1457 dust clouds. Spectral types, absolute magnitudes, color excesses, interstellar extinctions and distances of the stars are determined. The plot of interstellar extinction A_v_ versus distance shows that the dust cloud is situated at a distance of 325pc, at 180pc from the Galactic plane, and its true diameter is about 11pc. The interstellar extinction law in the area is found to be normal, typical for the diffuse dust. Ten peculiar or unresolved binary stars and some heavily reddened stars are detected.