An endless printing band (1) consists preferably of rubber or synthetic rubber and in its production is cut from a hose-like blank by cuts extending along its edge. Said printing band (1) has in the one region of its outer side visually readable characters (3) and in an opposite region laterally inverted raised printable characters (5). In the region of the readable characters (3) on the inner side (11) of the printing band (1) inwardly projecting cams (6) are provided for the advance of the band while the inner side (7) of the region comprising the printable characters (5) is smooth. To nevertheless ensure at both band regions equal amounts of material for as uniform as possible shrinkage in the production of the printing band (1) in the region of the transport cams (6) on the outer side of the band (1) remote from the cams (6) recesses (9) are provided whose lowermost point (10) lies beneath the center of the band (1) between the cams (6) and preferably substantially at the height of the inner side (11) of said band region between the cams (6). As a result, at the run (2) of the band (1) having cams (6) and the likewise raised readable characters (3) so much material is saved that the material accumulation of the two band regions or runs (2 and 4) is substantially the same and this gives the same shrinkage in the production. (FIG. 1).