<ARTICLE>                         5
<LEGEND>
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                             0000909724
<NAME>                            THE LEATHER FACTORY, INC.
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<CURRENCY>                        US DOLLARS
       
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                       JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                         MAR-31-1999
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