雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. Before the invention of the postage stamp in 1840, letters were paid for by the receiver, not the sender. This system caused many problems, such as people refusing to pay for unwanted letters. The first stamp, the Penny Black, was introduced in Britain and featured a portrait of Queen Victoria. It was an immediate success because it simplified the process and made sending letters more affordable. Interestingly, the stamp was not perforated initially, so people had to cut stamps apart with scissors. Perforations were added a few years later for convenience.