<PAGE>   1


                                 UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM 10-Q

       [X]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                 For Quarter Ended September 28, 1997 

                                       OR

       [ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
               OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                For The Transition Period From     to    
 
 
                       Commission File Number 01-1097


                       THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY

OHIO CORPORATION                                      31-0455440

600 ALBANY STREET, DAYTON, OHIO                            45401

TELEPHONE NUMBER                                    937-443-1000 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file 
such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days.  Yes   X   No.     .
                            ---      --- 


     CLASS                   OUTSTANDING AS OF September 28, 1997 

Common Stock - $1.00 Par Value            23,688,385

Class A Stock - $1.00 Par Value            4,725,000



                           - 1 of 10 

<PAGE>   2


                         THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
                                     INDEX

                                                            Page 
                                                             No.
                                                             ---
PART I - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
-----------------------------
  Balance Sheet
   September 28, 1997, December 29, 1996                      3


  Statement of Income
   13 Weeks Ended September 28, 1997 and September 29, 1996                   
   39 Weeks Ended September 28, 1997 and September 29, 1996   4   
                                                        


  Statement of Cash Flows
   39 Weeks Ended September 28, 1997 and September 29, 1996   5
   

The financial statements of the Registrant included herein have
been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Although certain
information normally included in financial statements prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles has been
condensed or omitted, the Registrant believes that the disclosures
are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  It
is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction
with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Registrant for the year ended
December 29, 1996.

The financial statements included herein reflect all adjustments 
(consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which, in the
opinion of management, are necessary to present a fair statement 
of the results for the interim periods. 

The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of
trends or of results to be expected for a full year.


  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
   Operations and Financial Condition                        6-7


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION AND SIGNATURE                    8-10
-----------------------------------------
                                  - 2 of 10 -


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                         THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
                                 BALANCE SHEET
                            (Dollars in Thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          ASSETS                             September 28, December 29,
                                                  1997        1996
                                              (Unaudited)   (Audited)  
                                              -----------  ------------
 <S>                                          <C>          <C>
 CURRENT ASSETS
  Cash and Cash Equivalents                   $ 78,567     $ 64,550
  Investment held to maturity                   16,339        1,215
  Accounts Receivable, less Allowance
   for Losses                                  168,655      178,711  
  Inventories
   Finished Products                            58,819       55,449
   Jobs in Process                              18,331       18,573
   Materials and Supplies                       10,024       12,130
  Deferred Income Tax                            8,206        8,206
  Prepaid Expense                                5,737        6,153
                                              --------     --------
   Total Current Assets                        364,678      344,987
                                              --------     --------
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
  Buildings and Improvements                    65,610       61,711  
Machinery and Equipment                        261,957      224,702
  Office Equipment                              49,803       60,894
                                              --------     --------
   Total                                       377,370      347,307
                                              --------     --------
  Less Accumulated Depreciation                163,623      141,021
   Depreciated Cost                            213,747      206,286
  Construction in Process                       33,720       26,160
  Land                                           4,081        3,512
                                              --------     --------
   Total Plant and Equipment                   251,548      235,958
                                              --------     --------
OTHER ASSETS
  Goodwill, Patents, and Other                   3,159        3,278
  Investment in F3                               5,277        2,890
  Investment in Polyforms Joint Venture            250        1,000
                                              --------     --------
   Total Other Assets                            8,686        7,168
                                              --------     --------
TOTAL ASSETS                                   624,912      588,113
                                              ========     ========

                        LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES
  Accounts Payable                              20,587       20,225
  Dividends Payable                                  -        5,738
  Accrued Compensation                          33,853       34,355
  Accrued Other Expense                            947        5,536
  Accrued Taxes, except Income                   6,941        5,902
  Income Taxes Payable                           2,253        2,624
  Customer Deposits                             21,189        4,185
  Deferred Service Contract Income               8,352        7,274
                                              --------     --------
   Total Current Liabilities                    94,122       85,839
                                              --------     --------
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
  Long-Term Debt                                 4,600        4,600
  Retiree Healthcare                            28,718       27,643  
Deferred Income Taxes                           16,785       16,785
                                              --------     --------
   Total Long-Term Liabilities                  50,103       49,028
                                              --------     --------

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value
   24,302,091 Shares Issued in 1997             24,302
   24,204,392 Shares Issued in 1996                          24,204
   Class A Stock, $1.00 Par Value
    4,725,000 Shares Outstanding                 4,725        4,725
   Capital in Excess of Par Value               31,402       28,705
   Retained Earnings                           437,214      400,387
   Treasury Stock, 613,706 Shares at Cost      (16,956)   
                                              --------
                   239,486 Shares at Cost                    (4,775)
                                                           --------
  Total Shareholders' Equity                   480,687      453,246
                                              --------     --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' 
 EQUITY                                       $624,912     $588,113
                                              ========     ========
</TABLE>
                                     - 3 of 10 -
<PAGE>   4
                            THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
                                STATEMENT OF INCOME
                        (In Thousands except Data Per Share)
                                    (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   Third Quarter        Nine Months 
                                 13 Weeks Ended       39 Weeks Ended
                                Sept 28,  Sept 29,   Sept 28,  Sept 29,
                                  1997      1996       1997      1996  
                                --------  --------   --------  --------
<S>                             <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
TOTAL REVENUE                   $237,243  $230,853   $703,824  $699,878
                                --------  --------   --------  --------
COSTS AND EXPENSES               
Cost of Products Sold            139,789   139,418    416,244   431,509
Engineering & Research             2,227     2,023      7,020     6,037 
Selling and Administrative        58,059    53,687    171,010   159,418 
Depreciation and Amortization      9,712     8,643     28,339    25,331 
Interest                              71       118        218       425 
                                --------  --------   --------  --------
Total Costs and Expenses         209,858   203,889    622,831   622,720 
                                --------  --------   --------  --------
   
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES        27,385    26,964     80,993    77,158 
                  
Income Taxes                      11,135    10,899     32,796    31,444
                                --------  --------   --------  --------
NET INCOME                       $16,250   $16,065    $48,197   $45,714 
                                ========  ========   ========  ========
Average Number of Shares
   Outstanding (000)              28,498    28,687     28,498    28,687
  
DATA PER SHARE

 Net Income                      $  0.57   $  0.56    $  1.69   $  1.59
                 
 Dividends Paid                     0.20      0.19       0.60      0.57
</TABLE>





 


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                              THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
                                STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                (Dollars in Thousands)
                                      (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Nine Months
                                                39 Weeks Ended
                                              Sept 28,   Sept 29,
                                                1997       1996
                                              --------   --------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
<S>                                          <C>         <C>
Net Income                                   $ 48,197    $ 45,714
                                             --------    --------
Add Items not Affecting Cash:                
     Depreciation and Amortization             28,339      25,330
     Loss (Gain) on Sale of Facilities            245         (30)
     Net Change to Investments                  1,267         989
     Net Change to Retiree Healthcare           1,075         945
Increase (Decrease) in Cash Arising from
  Changes in Asset and Liabilities:
     Accounts Receivable                       10,056      27,719
     Inventories                               (1,022)     15,855
     Other Assets                                 417        (544) 
     Accounts Payable                             362       1,379 
     Accrued Expenses                          (4,052)        817
     Income Taxes Payable                        (371)        781
     Customer Deposits                         17,004      (2,264)
     Deferred Service Income                    1,078         138 
                                             --------    --------
Net Adjustments                                54,398      71,115 
                                             --------    --------
  Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities   102,595     116,829 
                                             ========    ========

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from Sale of Facilities                  401         951
Proceeds from Sale of Short-term investments        -         115
Purchase of Short Term Investments             15,000)          -
Additions to Plant and Equipment              (44,456)    (44,317)
Investment in F3 Corporation                   (3,028)       (751)
Investment in Polyforms Joint Venture               -        (157)    
                                             --------    --------
Net Cash (Used in) Investing Activities       (62,083)    (44,159)
                                             ========    ========

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Principal Payments on Debt                          -      (3,235)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock          2,794       1,118 
Redemption of Common Stock                    (12,181)          5
Dividends Paid                                (17,108)    (16,355)     
                                             --------    --------
  Net Cash (Used in) Financing Activities     (26,495)    (18,467)
                                             ========    ========
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND  
    CASH EQUIVALENTS                           14,017      54,203

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning           64,550      33,646 
                                             --------    --------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, ENDING            $ 78,567    $ 87,849 
                                             ========    ========
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>   6
                     THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
                   MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
            OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

Results of Operations
---------------------

Net Income for the third quarter 1997 rose 1.2% to $16.3 million or $.57 per 
share, compared to $16.1 million or $.56 per share for the comparable quarter
of 1996.  Revenue for the quarter was $237.2 million, a 2.8% increase
compared to the $230.9 million reported in the third quarter 1996.  For the
nine months year-to-date period, Net Income was $48.2 million or $1.69 per
share, a 5.4% increase compared to 1996's $45.7 million and $1.59 per share
result.  Revenue for the first nine months was $703.8 million compared with
$699.9 million for the comparable period in 1996.  The 2.8% increase in
revenue for the quarter showed a slight improving trend compared to the .5%
decline reported in the first half of 1997.  Overall, the growth in net
income was primarily attributable to improved gross margins, up 6.6% and 7.2%
for the quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively, offset by increases
in operating expenses and depreciation.

The Document Management Division reported revenue of $174.9 million and
$514.7 million for the quarter and year-to-date periods, representing 
increases of 6.1% and 3.2%, respectively. The current quarter's strong
revenue growth was driven by the division's Stanfast on demand printing
group, up 26.1%, and the Imaging Services print processing and fulfillment
group, up 12.4%.  The Stanfast Group's 26.1% growth includes the transfer of 
envelope products previously subcontracted by the Company; restating the
prior year's revenue for the inclusion of envelopes, the Stanfast Group's
revenue increased 14.2%.  The Document Management Division experienced
improved unit growth of 4% for the quarter.

The Communicolor Division reported revenue of $23.6 million for the third
quarter, 1997.  While this was a 3.0% decline from the comparable period in
1996, it compared favorably to the average decline in the preceding four
quarters of 11.5%.  On a year-to-date basis, the Communicolor Division
reported revenue of $68.9 million, down 7.5%.  

The Document Systems Division reported revenue of $37.9 million for the third
quarter, down 6.7%, and $118.1 million on a year-to-date basis, down 3.9%. 
Contributing to the third quarter decline was a 20.0% decline in equipment
revenue reflecting the on-going transition to new intelligent printing
application products, a 4.5% decline in maintenance revenue as a result of
last year's pruning of unprofitable accounts, and a 4.0% decline in the
Pressure Sensitive Group due to increased discounting of labels.  Partially
offsetting these declines was an increase in supplies revenue, up 3.7% for
the quarter.  

The Company's gross margin for all products and services continued to improve
for both the third quarter and nine months year-to-date, increasing 6.6% and
7.2%, respectively.  Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 41.1% for
the third quarter, slightly higher than the first half's 40.7%.  Gross margin
as a percentage of revenue improved 1.5 percentage points over the prior
year's 39.6% for the quarter and 2.6 percentage points over the prior year-
to-date's 38.3%.


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<PAGE>   7

The improvements in gross margin on a year-to-date basis continue to be
attributable to lower paper price levels in both the Document Management
Division and the Document Systems Division's Pressure Sensitive Group, along 
with improved cost controls in the Document Systems Division's maintenance
group.  No LIFO inventory adjustments were recorded on a year-to-date basis
in either year.  During the third quarter, the price of white bond paper,
which accounts for approximately 50% of the total paper used by the Company, 
increased approximately 6% and another 6% increase is expected in the fourth 
quarter.  The anticipated year-end price levels should be reflective of the
prices experienced at the end of 1996.  Accordingly, the year end LIFO
inventory adjustment is not expected to have a material effect on earnings. 

Selling, administrative, and engineering expenses increased 8.2% and 7.6% for
the quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively, reflecting increased
sales support expense related to the roll out of the STAR sales office
automation system and heavier investment in information services related to
the development and support of new internal client server applications. 
Depreciation and amortization expense continued to increase approximately 12%
for both the quarter and year-to-date periods in line with higher capital
spending levels.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
-------------------------------

The Company's financial condition remains strong.  Cash and cash equivalents 
of $78.6 million exceeded total long term debt of $4.6 million by $74.0
million.  Net cash flow from operating activities on a year-to-date basis was
$102.6 million resulting from higher net income, a 5.6% reduction in accounts
receivable, and a $17 million increase in customer deposits.  Current assets
were 3.9 times the level of current liabilities.

Capital expenditures on a year-to-date basis totaled $44.5 million including 
the purchase of a $2.7 million Memphis, Tennessee manufacturing facility to
house a new Stanfast demand print center utilizing color digital technology. 
The Company's anticipated annual capital expenditure level remains at $60
million.  During the quarter, the Company also invested $15 million in short 
term investments and repurchased an additional $.8 million of the Company's
stock, bringing the total year-to-date stock repurchases to $12.2 million.

The Company believes that a combination of internally generated funds and
current cash reserves will be adequate to meet operating and financing needs 
in the near term.


















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<PAGE>   8
                                           
                             THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
                                    PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


ITEMS 1 THRU 5
--------------

     None

ITEM 6      (a)  Exhibits
------
                 Exhibit No.           Description

                    27                 Financial Data Schedule

            (b)  There have been no reports on Form 8-K filed during the
                 quarter for which this report on Form 10-Q is being filed.
                                    



































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<PAGE>   9



                                   SIGNATURE
                                   ---------

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

November 11, 1997  




                                THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY




                                 /s/  C. J. Brown                  
                          ----------------------------------------- 
                       By C. J. Brown, Sr. Vice President, Administration,
                                      Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer






























                                      - 9 of 10 -
<PAGE>   10

                                         
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Number              Description
  
  27                Financial Data Schedule













































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