雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. Many people assume that the first stamps were introduced in the UK in 1840, but actually, the concept of prepaid postage dates back to ancient China. However, the first adhesive postage stamp, known as the Penny Black, was indeed a British innovation. Interestingly, the first postal system in the UK was established by Henry VIII in 1516, but it was only for royal use. It wasn't until the 19th century that the general public could send mail easily. Now, let's focus on a key point: the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post in 1840, which made sending letters affordable for everyone.