雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. 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, paid for the delivery, which often led to refusals. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. It featured a portrait of Queen Victoria and cost one penny. However, what many people don't realize is that the stamp was not immediately popular. People were skeptical about paying in advance, so it took several years for the system to gain public trust.