<ARTICLE>                                           5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
historical financial statements of American Pad & Paper Company's June 30, 1999
10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000005588
<NAME>                                         AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                                 1,000

                                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   Dec-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                      Jan-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                        Jun-30-1999
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