PURPOSE: To provide the address reading and classifying machine which decreases erroneous classification according to recognition of town name among addresses.

CONSTITUTION: This address reading and classifying machine 7 consists of a supplying section 9, a taking out section 11, a taking in and transporting section 13, a reading section 15 and a classifying section 17. The classifying section 17 has classifying boxes 19... for classifying postal matter P by every address. These classifying boxes 19 have the classifying boxes for classifying the postal matter P which are heretofore recognized down to the prescribed hierarchy when there are the hierarchy of town names and the hierarchy of street zones further below the prescribed hierarchy of the hierarchically built town names. The postal matter P supplied from the supplying section 9 of this address reading and classifying machine 7 is classified by every address to the classifying boxes 19 in accordance with the results of the reading and recognizing in the reading section 15.