WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE> 5
<NAME> NASHUA CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-27-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          20,610
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   24,108
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     13,932
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                79,999
<PP&E>                                         125,313
<DEPRECIATION>                                  64,945
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 190,353
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           66,881
<BONDS>                                              0
<COMMON>                                        18,754
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                      80,427
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   190,353
<SALES>                                        306,030
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               306,030
<CGS>                                          216,972
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  274,099
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,673
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 29,258
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,297
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             16,961
<DISCONTINUED>                                   8,958
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (1,257)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,662
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0