A thermal transfer recording system using a thermal head is disclosed. The thermal head includes protective films with different levels of thermal conductivity so that heat can be selectively and preferentially conducted to the protective film located right above the heat resistor layer, resulting in improved thermal efficiency and reduced power consumption. Because the thermal head is of an endface type, the tip of the thermal head can sufficiently protrude, which increases the stress to be applied by the thermal head onto a sheet of printing paper. This enables printing on a rough sheet. The sufficient protrusion of the tip also ensures an appropriate angle of an ink ribbon with respect to the sheet when the ink ribbon is applied to and removed from the sheet. Thus, bi-directional printing can be performed, resulting in high speed printing.