Abstract: A thermal transfer printing apparatus includes an ink cassette having an ink supply roll and an ink take-up roll, and a thermal head for pressing ink paper, fed from the ink supply roll, against printing paper so as to transfer ink in the ink paper to the printing paper through heating. The ink paper subjected to the transfer is peeled from the printing paper, and then is taken up by the ink take-up roll. This apparatus further includes a generally V-shaped peel pawl provided on the thermal head, and an ink guide provided on the ink cassette. The ink paper subjected to the transfer is peeled from the printing paper by the peel pawl and the ink guide. The printing paper thus peeled is taken up by the ink take-up roll via the ink guide. With this construction, the angle of the peel pawl relative to the printing paper can be made close to 90.degree., thereby reducing a peel force and effecting the transfer satisfactorily.