Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service in Britain. Before the 19th century, sending a letter was very expensive, and the cost was paid by the recipient, not the sender. This meant that many people refused to accept letters they couldn't afford. In 1840, Sir Rowland Hill introduced the Penny Post, which charged a uniform rate of one penny, paid in advance by the sender. This reform led to a dramatic increase in the volume of mail. Interestingly, the first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in the same year and featured a portrait of Queen Victoria.