<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000070415 <NAME> NATIONAL PATENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 6,988 <SECURITIES> 4,063 <RECEIVABLES> 47,651 <ALLOWANCES> (3,100) <INVENTORY> 22,460 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 90,930 <PP&E> 34,437 <DEPRECIATION> (25,066) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 158,368 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 54,663 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 72 <OTHER-SE> 74,793 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 158,368 <SALES> 48,156 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 49,901 <CGS> 41,064 <TOTAL-COSTS> 6,911 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 325 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,001 <INCOME-PRETAX> 600 <INCOME-TAX> 517 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 83 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 83 <EPS-PRIMARY> .01 <EPS-DILUTED> .01