Brazilian Hydrographic Service (Diretoria de Hidrografia e Navigaçao) Plaque

Description

You are bidding on an original plaque from the Brasiliero Diretoria de Hidrografia e Navigaçao (Brazilian Hydrographic Service). It was presented to me by the directing admiral upon a visit to the facility in Niterói (outside Rio de Janeiro) in 1981.
I was Chief Scientist aboard a US research vessel that was conducting joint seafloor mapping programs with the Brazilian Navy east of the coast Brazil, prior to the discoveries of petroleum on the Brazilian continental margin. These studies helped establish the present-day oil-producing industry of Brazil, PETROBRAS.
Upon completion of the research program, the collected data were turned over to Brazil at a formal dinner, at which time I received the plaque. It hung on my wall in my office until retirement in 1999, and then behind a bar in my rec room. I left that residence for my present one in 2006. I have no "brag wall", so it has been hiding in a box in storage until now.
I am no longer an active scientist and I getting very long in the tooth, and, before I get too old to remember what it was all about and before my heirs have to do it for me, I need to consign this item to a new home.
Shipping weight is about 1 ½ pounds (3/4 kg), so the least expensive way to ship it within the US is by Priority Mail. Overseas post will be by USPS International First Class Package rate, which, like Priority Mail, is trackable (but extremely expensive). Please note that these rates are estimated based on distance from the Washington DC area. If the postage to you is less, I will refund the difference via Paypal.
Muito obrigado, thanks for looking and good luck!
-----------------------And now, the not so "fine print"----------------------------
Payment is expected within 5 days. Shipping is the following business day, which means that, other than on a Sunday or legal US holiday, shipping is normally done the following day.
If you can't, or do not intend to pay within 5 days, please make advance arrangements with me. All who pay on time are provided with excellent feedback at the time of payment. If you are happy with your item, I would appreciate the same.