PURPOSE: To ensure that a passbook can be identified without writing classification data magnetically by collating knowledge-wise pattern data obtained by reading a print pattern of the specified position of the passbook with a previously prepared standard pattern data and identifying the passbook after determining whether both pattern data coincide with each other.

CONSTITUTION: An image sensor 1 reads a print pattern at a reading point of a reference passbook, then a binary coding circuit 4 binarizes a pattern signal which is read and stores the binarized pattern signal in pattern memory 5 as a standard pattern data. The pattern signal which is read from a passbook to be identified using the image sensor 1 is binarized using the binary coding circuit 4 and the binarized pattern signal is collated with a standard pattern data, as a pattern data to be identified, using a comparison circuit 6. An identification circuit 7 identifies a passbook using an identification signal from the comparison circuit 6. Thus writing classification data magnetically during the preparation of a passbook is no longer required and subsequently, it is possible to prepare a passbook at low cost.