A printing system, comprising: a printing device that includes: a thermal head, a ribbon drive source (81, 82) that is configured to transport an ink ribbon through a space between the thermal head and a platen roller; and a head drive source that is configured to move the thermal head in a direction approaching or separating from the platen roller, the platen roller that is disposed opposite to the ink ribbon with respect to a transport path of a print medium transported by an external apparatus; a controller; and an interface, wherein the head drive source is configured to move the thermal head between a first position at which the ink ribbon is urged toward the platen roller and a second position which is farther away from the platen roller than the first position and at which urging of the ink ribbon against the platen roller is released, when receiving a print command, the controller is configured to execute head movement control for moving the thermal head from the second position to the first position with the head drive source and ribbon acceleration control for accelerating a transport speed of the ink ribbon to a target speed with the ribbon drive source, after completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control, the controller is configured to control energization of the thermal head to be on standby until a standby time elapses from the time of completion of the ribbon acceleration control and the head movement control, and when the standby time has elapsed from the time of completion of the ribbon acceleration control and the head movement control, the controller is configured to control the thermal head located at the first position to perform printing on the print medium, which is being transported and is disposed between the ink ribbon and the platen roller, using the ink ribbon transported at the target speed with the ribbon drive source. a printing device that includes: a thermal head, a ribbon drive source (81, 82) that is configured to transport an ink ribbon through a space between the thermal head and a platen roller; and a head drive source that is configured to move the thermal head in a direction approaching or separating from the platen roller, a thermal head, a ribbon drive source (81, 82) that is configured to transport an ink ribbon through a space between the thermal head and a platen roller; and a head drive source that is configured to move the thermal head in a direction approaching or separating from the platen roller, the platen roller that is disposed opposite to the ink ribbon with respect to a transport path of a print medium transported by an external apparatus; a controller; and an interface, wherein the head drive source is configured to move the thermal head between a first position at which the ink ribbon is urged toward the platen roller and a second position which is farther away from the platen roller than the first position and at which urging of the ink ribbon against the platen roller is released, when receiving a print command, the controller is configured to execute head movement control for moving the thermal head from the second position to the first position with the head drive source and ribbon acceleration control for accelerating a transport speed of the ink ribbon to a target speed with the ribbon drive source, after completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control, the controller is configured to control energization of the thermal head to be on standby until a standby time elapses from the time of completion of the ribbon acceleration control and the head movement control, and when the standby time has elapsed from the time of completion of the ribbon acceleration control and the head movement control, the controller is configured to control the thermal head located at the first position to perform printing on the print medium, which is being transported and is disposed between the ink ribbon and the platen roller, using the ink ribbon transported at the target speed with the ribbon drive source.