Good morning. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. Many people assume that postal systems were invented in the 19th century with the advent of stamps, but in fact, organized mail delivery dates back much further. For instance, the ancient Persians had a relay system of mounted couriers, which Herodotus praised for its efficiency. However, the first truly public postal service, where anyone could send a letter, was established in England in 1635 by King Charles I. Interestingly, the postal service initially charged the recipient, not the sender, a fee based on the distance traveled. It wasn't until the 1840s, with the introduction of the penny post in Britain, that prepaid postage became standard.
❓ По словам лектора, какой была заметная особенность ранней почтовой службы в Англии?
A. A. Оно было доступно только государственным чиновникам.