雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

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 paid for the letter, which often caused problems. For example, people would refuse to accept mail they didn't want, leaving the postal worker unpaid. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. It made prepayment possible, and soon other countries followed. Interestingly, the design of the Penny Black featured a profile of Queen Victoria, and it remained valid for postage for many years, though it was only printed for one year.