UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No. 4)*




                         AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)



                           Common Stock, $1 par value
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)



                                    026375105
                  --------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                 July 31, 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

[X] Rule 13d-1(b)

[_] Rule 13d-1(c)

[_] Rule 13d-1(d)


*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,and
for any  subsequent  amendment  containing  information which  would  alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.


The  information  required in the  remainder  of this  cover page shall  not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,
see the Notes).

                           Page 1 of 9



-----------------------
  CUSIP No. 026375105                   13G
-----------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Name of Reporting Person
      I.R.S. Identification No. of above Person

           Goldman  Sachs Asset Management
           (Goldman Sachs Asset Management,  L.P.,  together  with  GS
           Investment Strategies, LLC, "Goldman Sachs Asset Management")
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2.   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

                                                                (a) [_]
                                                                (b) [_]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3.   SEC Use Only



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4.   Citizenship or Place of Organization

           Delaware

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     5.   Sole Voting Power

     Number of                 0

      Shares        ----------------------------------------------------------
                     6.   Shared Voting Power
   Beneficially
                               549,641
     Owned by
                    ----------------------------------------------------------
       Each          7.   Sole Dispositive Power

    Reporting                  0

      Person        ----------------------------------------------------------
                     8.   Shared Dispositive Power
       With:
                               570,341

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 9.   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person


           570,341


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.   Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares

                                                                    [_]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.   Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)


           1.3%


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.   Type of Reporting Person

           IA

------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                Page 2 of 9



Item 1(a).         Name of Issuer:
                   AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION

Item 1(b).         Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
                   One American Rd.
                   Cleveland, Ohio 44144

Item 2(a).         Name of Persons Filing:

                   GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT

Item 2(b).         Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

                   Goldman Sachs Asset Management
                   32 Old Slip
                   New York, NY  10005

Item 2(c).         Citizenship:
                   GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P. - Delaware
                   GS INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, LLC - Delaware


Item 2(d).         Title of Class of Securities:
                   Common Stock, $1 par value

Item 2(e).         CUSIP Number:
                   026375105

Item 3.            If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or
                   13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

          (a).[  ]  Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act
                   (15 U.S.C. 78o).

          (b).[  ]  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act
                   (15 U.S.C. 78c).

          (c).[  ]  Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act
                   (15 U.S.C. 78c).

          (d).[  ]  Investment company registered under Section 8 of the
                   Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).

          (e).[X]  An investment adviser in accordance with
                   Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
                              Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
                              GS Investment Strategies, LLC

          (f).[  ]  An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance
                   with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

          (g).[  ]  A parent holding company or control person in accordance
                   with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

          (h).[  ]  A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
                   Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

          (i).[  ]  A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
                   investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the
                   Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

          (j).[  ]  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

                               Page 3 of 9

Item 4.            Ownership.*

          (a).     Amount beneficially owned:
                   See the response(s) to Item 9 on the attached cover page(s).

          (b).     Percent of Class:
                   See the response(s)to Item 11 on the attached cover page(s).

          (c).     Number of shares as to which such person has:

                   (i).    Sole power to vote or to direct  the vote:  See the
                           response(s) to Item 5 on the attached cover page(s).

                   (ii).   Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:  See the
                           response(s) to Item 6 on the attached cover page(s).

                   (iii).  Sole power to  dispose or to direct  the disposition
                           of:  See the response(s) to  Item 7  on the attached
                           cover page(s).

                   (iv).   Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                           of:  See the response(s) to  Item 8  on the attached
                           cover page(s).

Item 5.            Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
                   If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as
                   of the date hereof the reporting persons have ceased to be
                   the beneficial owners of more than five percent of the class
                   of securities, check the following [X].

Item 6.            Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
                   Person.
                             Not Applicable

Item 7.            Identification  and  Classification  of the Subsidiary Which
                   Acquired  the  Security  Being  Reported  on  by the  Parent
                   Holding Company.
                             Not Applicable

Item 8.            Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
                             Not Applicable

Item 9.            Notice of Dissolution of Group.
                             Not Applicable

Item 10.           Certification.
                   By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
                   and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired
                   and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not
                   acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the
                   effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer
                   of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
                   connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
                   that purpose or effect.


--------------------------


     * In  accordance  with  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  Release  No.
34-39538 (January 12, 1998) (the "Release"), this filing reflects the securities
beneficially  owned by Goldman  Sachs Asset  Management,  L.P.  ("GSAM")  and GS
Investment  Strategies,  LLC  ("GSIS"),  each a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of The
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ("GS Group"). This filing does not reflect securities,
if any, beneficially owned by any other subsidiaries of GS Group whose ownership
is disaggregated from that of GSAM and GSIS in accordance with the Release. GSAM
and GSIS,  each an  investment  adviser,  disclaim  beneficial  ownership of the
securities  beneficially  owned by (i) any client accounts with respect to which
GSAM or GSIS or their  employees have voting or investment  discretion,  or both
and (ii)  securities  managed,  if any,  on GSAM's or  GSIS's  behalf,  by third
parties.



                               Page 4 of 9


                                    SIGNATURE


            After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge
            and belief,  I certify that the information set forth in
            this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date:  August 7, 2008

             GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.

             By:/s/  Jeremy Kahn
              ----------------------------------------
             Name:   Jeremy Kahn
             Title:  Attorney-in-fact

             GS INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, LLC

             By:/s/  Jeremy Kahn
              ----------------------------------------
             Name:   Jeremy Kahn
             Title:  Attorney-in-fact



                               Page 5 of 9


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS



Exhibit No.             Exhibit
-----------             -------
  99.1          Joint Filing Agreement
  99.2          Power of Attorney, relating to
                GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
  99.3          Power of Attorney, relating to
                GS INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, LLC

                               Page 6 of 9


                                                                  EXHIBIT (99.1)

                                JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

     In  accordance  with Rule  13d-1(k)(1)  promulgated  under  the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the  undersigned  agree to the joint filing of a Statement
on Schedule 13G (including  any and all amendments  thereto) with respect to the
Common Stock, $1 par value, of AMERICAN GREETINGS  CORPORATION and further agree
to the filing of this agreement as an Exhibit thereto.  In addition,  each party
to this  Agreement  expressly  authorizes  each other party to this Agreement to
file on its behalf any and all amendments to such Statement on Schedule 13G.

Date:  August 7, 2008

             GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.

             By:/s/  Jeremy Kahn
              ----------------------------------------
             Name:   Jeremy Kahn
             Title:  Attorney-in-fact

             GS INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, LLC

             By:/s/  Jeremy Kahn
              ----------------------------------------
             Name:   Jeremy Kahn
             Title:  Attorney-in-fact


                               Page 7 of 9


                                                                  EXHIBIT (99.2)


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that GOLDMAN  SACHS ASSET  MANAGEMENT,
L.P. (the "Company") does hereby make,  constitute and appoint each of Catherine
Wedgbury,  Ronald L. Christopher and Jeremy Kahn, (and any other employee of The
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or one of its affiliates  designated in writing by one
of the attorneys-in-fact), acting individually, its true and lawful attorney, to
execute and deliver in its name and on its behalf  whether the Company is acting
individually or as representative of others,  any and all filings required to be
made by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (as amended,  the
"Act"),  with respect to securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned
by  the   Company   under  the  Act,   giving  and   granting   unto  each  said
attorney-in-fact  power and authority to act in the premises as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the Company might or could do if  personally  present by
one of its authorized signatories, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY  shall  remain in full force and effect until either
revoked  in  writing  by the  undersigned  or until  such time as the  person or
persons to whom power of  attorney  has been  hereby  granted  cease(s) to be an
employee of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or one of its affiliates.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has duly subscribed these presents as
of March 6, 2008.



GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.


By:/s/ Ellen R. Porges
________________________
Name:  Ellen R. Porges
Title: Managing Director



                               Page 8 of 9


                                                                  EXHIBIT (99.3)


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that GS INVESTMENT STRATEGIES,  LLC (the
"Company") does hereby make,  constitute and appoint each of Catherine Wedgbury,
Ronald L.  Christopher  and Jeremy  Kahn (and any other  employee of The Goldman
Sachs Group,  Inc. or one of its affiliates  designated in writing by one of the
attorneys-in-fact),  acting  individually,  its true  and  lawful  attorney,  to
execute and deliver in its name and on its behalf  whether the Company is acting
individually or as representative of others,  any and all filings required to be
made by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (as amended,  the
"Act"),  with respect to securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned
by  the   Company   under  the  Act,   giving  and   granting   unto  each  said
attorney-in-fact  power and authority to act in the premises as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the Company might or could do if  personally  present by
one of its authorized signatories, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


     THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY  shall  remain in full force and effect until either
revoked  in  writing  by the  undersigned  or until  such time as the  person or
persons to whom power of  attorney  has been  hereby  granted  cease(s) to be an
employee of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or one of its affiliates.


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has duly subscribed these presents as
of March 7, 2008.



GS INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, LLC



By: /s/ Ellen Porges
___________________________
Name:   Ellen R. Porges
Title:  Managing Director




                               Page 9 of 9