EXHIBIT J


           DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REQUESTS MORE INFORMATION ON AMERICAN
                   GREETINGS' ACQUISITION OF GIBSON GREETINGS


Cleveland, OH -- December 17, 1999 -- American Greetings (NYSE: AM) and Gibson
Greetings (Nasdaq: GIBG) today announced that they have received a request for
additional information from the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice
("DOJ") in connection with the proposed acquisition of Gibson Greetings by
American Greetings.

American Greetings and Gibson Greetings noted that such a request is not unusual
in these circumstances. The companies will work expeditiously to respond to and
cooperate with the DOJ's request.

American Greetings' tender offer for Gibson Greetings is currently scheduled to
expire on January 5, 2000. If necessary, American Greetings will extend the
tender offer as appropriate.

The information agent for the offer is Corporate Investor Communications, Inc.
Questions about the offer may be addressed to them at 877-842-2411.

American Greetings is the world's largest publicly held creator, manufacturer
and distributor of greeting cards and social expression products. With
headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings employs more than 21,000
associates around the world and has one of the largest creative studios in the
world. For more information on American Greetings, visit our site on the World
Wide Web at www.americangreetings.com.

Gibson Greetings, Inc., an industry innovator in the greeting card business, is
pursuing a strategy of marketing relationship-fostering products that provide
strong entertainment value. Gibson distributes more than 24,000 individual
relationship communication products (over 5,000 new products last year),
including greeting cards, gift wrap, party goods and licensed products. E-mail
greetings featuring Gibson content are available through the Egreetings Network
(www.egreetings.com), in which Gibson holds a minority equity interest. Gibson
cards are also available through the Internet from Sparks.com (www.sparks.com),
a leading online provider of greeting cards. For more information on Gibson
Greetings, please visit our web site at www.gibsongreetings.com.


Contact:
- --------

Dale A. Cable                               Jim King
Vice President, Treasurer                   Manager, Investor & Media Relations
American Greetings Corporation              American Greetings Corporation
(216) 252-7300                              (216) 252-4864

Adam Friedman                               James T. Wilson
Adam Friedman Associates                    Chief Financial Officer
(212) 391-7596                              Gibson Greetings, Inc.
adam@adam-friedman.com                      (606) 815-6000


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