<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CIK> 0000005588
<NAME> AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                           1,639                   1,639
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   68,708                  68,708
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (440)                   (440)
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<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               229,449                 229,449
<PP&E>                                         167,360                 167,360
<DEPRECIATION>                                (20,592)                (20,592)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 620,335                 620,335
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           86,773                  86,773
<BONDS>                                        379,703                 379,703
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           274                     274
<OTHER-SE>                                     113,584                 113,584
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   620,335                 620,335
<SALES>                                        167,160                 316,994
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               167,160                 316,994
<CGS>                                          134,339                 253,173
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  149,065                 283,505
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  (49)                   (121)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   168                     322
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,584                  17,795
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  8,560                  15,815
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,852                   7,115
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,708                   8,700
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,708                   8,700
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .16                     .30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0