Abstract: A high speed label printer includes a supply roll for supplying connected labels which are adhesively attached to a backing strip, to a pair of printing heads for printing indicia thereon. A platen provides support for the label during the printing operation and the backing is peeled from the label as it is drawn over the platen. A pair of friction drive rollers engage the peeled backing and are driven by a stepper motor to transport the labels past the printing heads. A housing for the supply roll of labels has spacers which confine the extent to which the roll unravels in the housing. When the stepper motor is started, the unravelled outer turns of the supply roll are initially withdrawn from the supply roll housing, thereby exerting a minimal torque on the stepper motor during start-up.