To increase the processing speed for a bankbook in the whole of a device.

In a printer for a bankbook or the like in which a magnetic recording section of the bankbook or the like provided with the magnetic recording section for recording the information on a final line printed at least on the last occasion on the bankbook is read out, and a printed face of the bankbook or the like is read optically to retrieve the final line printed thereon, and in the case the above-said final printed line conforms to a final information read out of the magnetic recording section of the bankbook or the like, the printing is started from the line just following the final line at the time of reading optically the printed face of the bankbook or the like, the final line only based on the final line information read out of the magnetic recording section of the bankbook or the like is read, and the final printed line is retrieved.