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. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. However, it was not the first postal system; ancient civilizations like Persia and China had relay systems. Interestingly, the British system initially charged the recipient, not the sender, which led to many refused letters. The reformer Rowland Hill proposed prepayment, which made the service more efficient and affordable. This change increased mail volume dramatically, but also required a new way to handle sorting, leading to the invention of postmarks.