PURPOSE: To register encoded data as directory data by recognizing image data read directly from a mail such as a standard-size postcard, etc., even if the directory data is not input from a keyboard, and encoding it.

CONSTITUTION: An image scanner 7 reads the image data from the address area, the name area of a government-printed postcard. Then, a character recognizing unit 9 recognizes the image data according to the area, and encodes as address data and name data. A CPU 1 registers the address data and the name data encoded by the unit 9 as directory data.