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 stamps, the receiver, not the sender, usually paid for the letter, which often led to refusal. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. It featured a profile of Queen Victoria and cost one penny. This system, known as prepayment, made sending mail more convenient and affordable. As a result, the volume of letters soared, and postal services expanded rapidly across Europe and North America.