PURPOSE: To certainly and easily attach the start end of an ink sheet to a taking-up roll in a thermal printer taking a melt type or sublimation type thermal transfer recording system.

CONSTITUTION: A lead sheet 3 thicker and wider than an ink sheet 1 is bonded to the start end of the ink sheet 1. Holes 4 are provided to the part wider than the ink sheet 2 of the lead sheet 3 at an equal interval P and can be engaged with the projections 6 of a taking-up roll 5. The lead sheet 3 is drawn out of a supply ink sheet roll 2 to bring the holes into engagement with the projections 6 of the taking-up roll 5 and the taking-up roll 5 is allowed to make about one revolution to overlap the start end of the ink sheet 1 with the lead sheet 3 and the winding of the ink sheet 1 becomes perfect.