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 mail delivery. Before that, recipients often paid for letters, which led to many refusals. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. It featured a profile of Queen Victoria. Interestingly, its design was simple, but it was highly effective in preventing fraud. However, the idea of prepaid postage was not entirely new; similar systems existed in France and Austria, but they were not as widely adopted. The Penny Black's success inspired other countries to follow suit within a few decades.