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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                               Nashua Corporation
              ----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


       Delaware                                   02-0170100
- -----------------------                        -------------------
(State of incorporation                          (IRS Employer
   or organization)                            Identification No.)

44 Franklin Street, Nashua, New Hampshire            03060
- -----------------------------------------         ---------- 
(Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


                                      None
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                                (Title of Class)


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:


                         Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
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                    (Title of each class to be so registered)


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Item 1.   Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered
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     On July 19, 1996, the Board of Directors of Nashua Corporation (the
"Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding
share of the Company's Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close of
business on August 15, 1996. Each Right entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one one-hundredth of a share
(a "Unit") of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value
(the "Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $75.00 in cash per Unit, subject
to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and The First National
Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent.

     Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial
ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock
Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days following the commencement of a
tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group
beneficially owning 10% or more of such outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common
Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock
certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after September 2, 1996
will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and
(iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate.

     The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
at the close of business on September 2, 2006, unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described below.

     As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by
the Board of 


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Directors, and except for shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise,
conversion or exchange of then outstanding options, convertible or exchangeable
securities or other contingent obligations to issue shares, only shares of
Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.

     In the event that a Person becomes the beneficial owner of 10% or more of
the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, except pursuant to an offer for all
outstanding shares of Common Stock which the independent directors determine to
be fair to, and otherwise in the best interests of, stockholders, each holder of
a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of
shares of Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other
securities of the Company) which equals the exercise price of the Right divided
by one-half of the current market price (as defined in the Rights Agreement) of
the Common Stock at the date of the occurrence of the event. However, Rights are
not exercisable following the event set forth above until such time as the
Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of such event,
all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and
void. The event set forth in this paragraph is referred to as a "Section
11(a)(ii) Event."

     For example, at an exercise price of $75.00 per Right, each Right not owned
by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following an event set
forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase for $75.00
such number of shares of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above)
as equals $75.00 divided by one-half of the current market price (as defined in
the Rights Agreement) of the Common Stock. Assuming that the Common Stock had a
per share value of $15.00 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be
entitled to purchase ten shares of Common Stock for $75.00.

     In the event that, at any time after any person has become an Acquiring
Person, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or its Common
Stock is changed or exchanged (other than a merger which follows an offer
determined by the independent directors to be fair as described in the first
sentence of the second preceding paragraph), or (ii) 50% or more of the
Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right
(except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall
thereafter have the right to 


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receive, upon exercise, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring
company which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by one-half of the
current market price of such common stock at the date of the occurrence of the
event.

     For example, at an exercise price of $75.00 per Right, each Right following
an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to
purchase for $75.00 such number of shares of common stock of the acquiring
company as equals $75.00 divided by one-half of the current market price (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) of such common stock. Assuming that such common
stock had a per share value of $50.00 at such time, the holder of each valid
Right would be entitled to purchase three shares of common stock of the
acquiring company for $75.00.

     At any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and subject
to the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors (as defined in the
Rights Agreement), the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights
(other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which have become void), in
whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series
of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and
privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

     The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than
the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution
to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets
(excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).

     The number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock is also
subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a
stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of Common Stock occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.



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     Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum
preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share and will be entitled
to an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per share of Common
Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be
entitled to a minimum preferential liquidating payment of $1.00 per share and
will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per share
of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 100 votes, voting
together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which Common Stock is changed or
exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times
the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are protected by
customary antidilution provisions.

     Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation and
voting rights, the value of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock
purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one
share of Common Stock.

     With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.

     At any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per
Right (payable in cash or stock). Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the
only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01 redemption
price. The Rights may also be redeemable following certain other circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement.

     Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.



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     Prior to the Distribution Date, the terms of the Rights are subject to
amendment by the Board of Directors without the consent of the holders of the
Rights, except that the redemption price of the Rights is not subject to
amendment. After the Distribution Date, only limited terms of the Rights are
subject to amendment by the Board.

     A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company. A copy of the Rights Agreement specifying the terms of the Rights,
which includes as Exhibit A the Form of Certificate of Designations, as Exhibit
B the Form of Rights Certificate, and as Exhibit C the Summary of Rights to
Purchase Preferred Stock, is filed as Exhibit 1 hereto and is incorporated
herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Exhibits.















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Item 2.   Exhibits.
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     1*   Rights Agreement, dated as of July 19, 1996, between Nashua
          Corporation and The First National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent,
          which includes as Exhibit A the Form of Certificate of Designations,
          as Exhibit B the Form of Rights Certificate, and as Exhibit C the
          Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock.



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     *    Incorporated by reference from the registrant's Current Report on Form
          8-K dated August 28, 1996.






















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                                   SIGNATURES




     Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.





Date: August 28, 1996                  Nashua Corporation


                                       /s/ Daniel M. Junius
                                       ------------------------------
                                       By:  Daniel M. Junius
                                       Title:  Vice President-Finance
                                               and Chief Financial 
                                               Officer (principal 
                                               financial and duly
                                               authorized officer)






















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



Exhibit No.    Description                                       Page
- -----------    -----------                                       ----


      1*       Rights Agreement, dated as of                     --
               July 19, 1996, between Nashua
               Corporation and The First 
               National Bank of Boston, as 
               Rights Agent, which includes as 
               Exhibit A the Form of Certificate 
               of Designations, as Exhibit B the 
               Form of Rights Certificate, and
               as Exhibit C the Summary of 
               Rights to Purchase Preferred
               Stock.


- -------------------
      *        Incorporated by reference from 
               the registrant's Current Report 
               on Form 8-K dated August 28, 1996.

















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