A printing apparatus for variable pre-printed stock stores customer data and two or more different pre-printed stocks. A scanner scans the printed area of the pre-printed stocks and produces tray stock information identifying the stocks. Received electronic customer orders include the customer data and selection data for one or more of the pre-printed stocks. A controller receives the tray stock information and the electronic customer orders for matching the tray stock information to the electronic orders to produce print instructions. A printer receives the print instructions and prints the customer data corresponding to the match onto pre-printed stocks identified by the match.