PURPOSE: To enable recording at a high speed and enable a reduction in device size, by providing a recording paper supplying means with a back-tension mechanism for applying a tension to a recording paper fed to a thermal recording head.

CONSTITUTION: With an exciting current for a solenoid 42 cut off to release a plunger 42a from attraction, a back-tension roller 36 is returned by a spring 38, and is pressed against a gripping roller 22. A driving roller 31 is again rotated, whereby a recording paper 62 is so fed that the leading end thereof already recorded in yellow follows the trailing end thereof to be recorded in yellow, with a small spacing therebetween, and a back tension is applied to the paper 62 under the action of the roller 36. When the leading end of the paper 62 is inserted and clamped between a platen roller 11 and an ink ribbon 91 being fed, the solenoid 42 is again excited to attract the plunger 42a, whereby the back-tension roller 36 is again separated from the gripping roller 22 through a lever 41 and an arm 39.