雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In the 19th century, the introduction of the penny post in Britain revolutionized communication. Before that, the recipient, not the sender, had to pay for the mail, which often led to refusal. The reform, proposed by Rowland Hill in 1837, made postage affordable and prepaid. Interestingly, the first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in 1840. However, it was only valid for one day because the red cancellation ink was hard to see on the black stamp, so it was quickly replaced by the Penny Red. This change was crucial for efficient mail processing.