An electrostatic recording body is constructed by laminating a glass substrate transmissive of recording light, a first conductive layer transmissive of recording light, a photoconductive layer exhibiting conductivity by receiving recording light, an insulating dielectric layer, and a second conductive layer transmissive of readout light, in this order. DC voltage is applied to the electrostatic recording body by a power source to charge both conductive layers, and an object is irradiated with light from a recording light irradiating means, thereby recording a electrostatic latent image at an interface between the photoconductive layer and the dielectric layer. Then, the conductive layers are short-circuited and charged at the same potential, thereby redistributing electrical charges. Exposure is performed by scanning with readout light from a readout exposure means, and current flowing out of the electrostatic recording body is detected by a current detecting means, thus reading out the electrostatic latent image.