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 recipient had to pay for the delivery, which was often expensive and inconvenient. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. It featured a portrait of Queen Victoria and cost one penny, hence the name. Interestingly, the stamp was not initially popular because people were suspicious of the new prepayment system. However, within a few years, other countries adopted similar systems, and by the 1870s, stamps had become a standard feature of mail worldwide.