Facsimile system for recording received picture data having buffer with selectable storage

A system for recording received picture data for facsimile transmission includes a compressor for encoding decoded received picture data per line as a unit and compressing the encoded picture data to produce compressed data. A decision unit is connected to the compressor to decide whether the number of bits of the compressed picture data or the number of bits of the restored picture data is smaller to produce a control signal representing the decision result. A buffer storage unit is operatively connected to the compressor for storing the picture data having a smaller number of bits decided by the the decision unit. The system also includes an output decoder connected to the buffer unit for delivering a decoded original picture data in the buffer storage when the data from the buffer storage is compressed data and delivering the data from the buffer storage unit when the data from the buffer storage unit is original picture data.