A printer is capable of preventing the formation of creases in a portion of an ink ribbon corresponding to a print head and of printing characters and images in good print quality without forming streaks attributable to creases in the ink ribbon. A main frame supports a feed spool and a takeup spool so that an ink ribbon extends between the feed spool and the takeup spool. A print head support frame supporting a print head and an ink ribbon guide is supported pivotally at one end thereof on the main frame. When the print head support frame is locked in place on the main frame, the ink ribbon guide depresses the ink ribbon so that the tension of a portion of the ink ribbon on one side of the main frame is higher than that of a portion of the same on the other side of the main frame while the printer is in an unoperational state and tension is distributed uniformly across a portion of the ink ribbon corresponding to the print head while the printer is in an operational state. Thus, creases are not formed in the ink ribbon while the printer is in the operational state.