PURPOSE: To select an address corresponding to a destination from a list of addresses shown on a display section in a short time and encode an address of mail simply and efficiently by providing a plurality of codes to be entered as the first code.

CONSTITUTION: If mail passes in front of a scanner 3, only an image of mail is shown on a display section 6a. A keyboard operator reads an address of destination based on the image of mail on the screen and presses the key indicating 'SANTAMA' (name of district) so that a code for delivery division 'SANTAMA' in which 'TAMA CITY' is included, is input as the first code. Furthermore, first three Kana letters 'A Sa Hi' attached to Chinese character ideographs 'ASAHI-CHO' (name of town) of the address of destination are input one by one through a keyboard section 7a, so that the first code in the second position is input. This information on the addresses of destination 'SANTAMA' and 'A Sa Hi' is converted to a list of addresses and code signals 10, and a signal 12 for the list of addresses for names of towns with 'SANTAMA' and 'A Sa Hi' as the first letters is output to the display section 6a for display of a list of addresses.