PURPOSE: To prevent printing quality from being lowered even when an ink ribbon is used multiple times, by a method wherein the position of printing with an ink ribbon by a printing head is slightly staggered from the center position of the ink ribbon.

CONSTITUTION: For example, the center position C of an ink ribbon 4 contained in a thermal transfer type ink ribbon cartridge 1 is slightly staggered from the center position of the printing head. It is preferable to enable to vary the stagger quantity (h) in several stages.