Abstract: A device for processing and for transporting flat mail items such as documents and/or letters inserted into envelopes, samples, cards, etc., includes a transport route, formed by transport rolls (5, 6, 7) of a transport mechanism (3), one end of this route being configured to load a separation unit (9) with mail items (2) for individual processing. The device includes a separation unit (9), which is designed with a drive roll (6), supported rotatably on a horizontal axis of rotation and extending transversely to the transport direction. The drive roll acts frictionally on the bottom surface of the mail item (2) and cooperates with a queuing mechanism (11), which is installed above (6) and offset from the drive roll in the downstream direction to hold back excess mail items.