A thermal printing apparatus including a print station, a transport mechanism for positioning a record medium at the print station, an arcuately-shaped platen, a line of printing elements and a thermally responsive ribbon. Relative movement between the platen and the printing elements is effected from a pivot point. Printing in a variety of styles of fonts like E13B is possible on documents like checks or deposit slips, for example. Special spring and wire members facilitate the separation of the ribbon from the document after printing.