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 stamps, the recipient, not the sender, usually paid for the mail. This often led to refusal of delivery. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. It featured a portrait of Queen Victoria and cost one penny. Interestingly, it was not printed in black for long, because the black ink was difficult to cancel with a black postmark. Therefore, later stamps were printed in other colors, like the Penny Red.
❓ Почему «Чёрный пенни» был заменён марками других цветов?
A. A. Чёрная марка была слишком дорогой в производстве.
B. B. Чёрный цвет затруднял видимость отметки о гашении.
C. C. Портрет королевы Виктории был нечётким в чёрном цвете.
D. D. Марка не пользовалась популярностью у публики.
✅ 正确答案
B. The black color made it difficult to see the cancellation mark.