雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. Many people assume that postal systems were invented in the modern era, but in fact, the earliest recorded courier service dates back to ancient Persia around 550 BC. However, the system we recognize today, with standardized postage rates and stamps, originated in Britain in 1840. Interestingly, the first stamps, known as the Penny Black, featured a portrait of Queen Victoria and were printed in black ink. This design was later changed to red to make it harder to remove the postmark and reuse the stamp.