May 06

On May 6, 1840, the British government issued the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, following postal reforms advocated by Sir Rowland Hill. The stamp featured a profile of Queen Victoria and prepayment for a letter weighing up to half an ounce. Its introduction standardized postal rates across the United Kingdom and greatly simplified the process of sending mail. The Penny Black’s success prompted other nations to adopt similar prepaid stamp systems. Collectors prize the Penny Black today both for its historical significance and its rarity in mint condition. It marked the beginning of modern postal communication, connecting people more efficiently than ever before.

The Channel Tunnel, also known as the Chunnel, is a 50-kilometer rail tunnel beneath the English Channel. Construction began in 1988 as a joint project between the United Kingdom and France, involving thousands of workers. On May 6, 1994, Queen Elizabeth II of the UK and French President François Mitterrand inaugurated the completed tunnel at a ceremony in Folkestone and Calais. The opening ceremony symbolized European cooperation and technological achievement. Since then, the tunnel has carried millions of passengers and freight, revolutionizing cross-channel travel. It remains one of the most remarkable engineering feats of the late 20th century.