雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. Now, many people assume that the first stamps were introduced in the United Kingdom, but actually, the first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was indeed issued in Britain in 1840. However, an earlier form of prepaid postage existed in France in the 17th century, where letters were sent with a special mark. The key point is that the modern postal system, with uniform rates and stamps, really began in Britain, and it quickly spread to other countries. So, when you look at the timeline, the British system was the model for others.