A receiving device for a start-stop teleprinter comprises a shifting register adapted to serially receive a code combination and to transfer in parallel the received combination to a temporary storing register for simultaneously controlling a set of code electromagnets. A start electromagnet adapted to cause a printing mechanism to be cyclically operated is controlled by a bistable control circuit, which is set by a character ready signal generated upon receiving the code combination. The circuit then clears the storing register and is reset by a signal generated upon sensing at least one element movable with said mechanism.