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, usually paid for the mail, 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. Interestingly, its design was based on a sculpture, not a painting. This stamp remained valid for over a year, but it was soon replaced by the Penny Red, partly because the black color made cancellations difficult to see.