雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In the 19th century, the introduction of the postage stamp revolutionized communication. Before that, the receiver usually paid for the letter, which was often expensive and led to many refusals. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. It featured a portrait of Queen Victoria. Interestingly, this stamp was so successful that other countries quickly adopted similar systems. However, the initial design had a flaw: the black color made it difficult to see the cancellation mark. Therefore, it was soon replaced by the Penny Red in 1841.