To improve the efficiency at the time of thermal printer main body initial setting, head replacing work, or the like by providing a memory means for storing various kinds of information concerning a heat generating element and a driving circuit in a thermal head.

The printer comprises a thermal head 10 having a plurality of heat generating elements 2, a driving circuit for controlling the heat generation amount of the heat generating elements 2, and a memory means 19 for storing various kinds of information concerning the heat generating elements 2 and the driving circuit; a means 12 for supplying power to the heat generating elements 2; a means 15 for producing an image signal to be sent out to the thermal head 10; and a system controlling means 16 for controlling the power supplying means 12 and the image signal producing means 15 based on the information stored in the memory means 19 for the thermal head. As a result, the efficiency at the time of thermal printer main body initial setting, head replacing work, or the like can be improved.