A paper feeder for feeding a large supply of paper to a recording apparatus such as a copying machine. The recording apparatus has a main body with a driving apparatus therein, an automatic feed mechanism therein including paper storage cassettes and an automatic feed for feeding recording paper from the cassettes, and a manual feed for feeding into the apparatus recording paper manually inserted thereinto. The paper feeder has a recording paper accommodating unit for accommodating a larger number of sheets of recording paper than the cassettes, the unit having a sheet feeder for feeding the recording paper out of the unit, and releasable engaging hooks for removably attaching the unit to the main body with the feed positioned in a position opposed to said manual feed of the apparatus for delivering sheets of recording paper to the manual feed. The apparatus drive is connected to the sheet feeder when the unit is attached to the main body, whereby when the unit is attached to the main body with a multiplicity of sheets of recording paper accommodated therein, the sheets can be fed to the interior of the apparatus through the manual feed.