PURPOSE: To prevent a normal original from the generation of the lack of picture information at the reading of the original by forming a notch or a colored part which can not be detected by an original detecting sensor in a mark sheet to be used for the reading operation of a facsimile or the like.

CONSTITUTION: A notch 4 is formed on the leading end part of a mark sheet for read control as shown by X to prevent the mark sheet from being detected by an original detecting sensor 1 in addition to the formation of a mark 3 indicating the mark sheet. Even if the leading end of the mark sheet reaches an original detecting position I , the mark sheet is not yet detected (refer A) and is first detected at a position (refer A) transferred by a distance (a). In case of the transfer of a normal original, the leading end of the normal original is detected at the detecting position I (refer A) and starts to be read out at a position (refer B) transferred by a prescribed distance (namely, c=b-a). Since the original is provided to the normal picture information reading work from its leading end from the arrival at the reading position II, the picture information on the leading end part is prevented from the generation of lack.