A hand-held copier reads image data from an original while it is being swept across the original, and prints the image data on a sheet of printing paper while it is being swept across the printing paper. The copier has a memory for storing the image data read from the original. It has a start switch and a touch-detecting switch. The touch-detecting switch detects whether or not the copier appropriately contacts the original or the printing paper. The data-reading operation and the data-printing operation are controlled in accordance with whether these switches are turned on or off.