Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In the 19th century, the introduction of the postage stamp revolutionized mail delivery. Before that, the recipient had to pay for the mail, which often led to refusal. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. It featured a portrait of Queen Victoria and cost one penny. Interestingly, the design was based on a profile engraving, which was later reused for many other stamps. This innovation made prepayment possible and greatly increased mail volume.