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The stamp designs were based on photographs of specimens from the Australian National Insect Collection,  CSIRO, Canberra, having been collected by Mr. W W Brandt of the Division of Entomology and photographed by Mr. M S Upton, also of the CSIRO Division of Entomology The stamps were printed multi-colour photogravure by Helio Courvoisier SA of Switzerland on unwatermarked granite paper with yellow tropical gum in sheets of 50 (10 x 5 vertical or 5 x 10 horizontal format) perforated 11¹/_2.
On the 12th of October 1966, a 12c denomination was added to the definitive series to complete the decimal currency set. The stamp depicted a male specimen of a Blue Crow Butterfly - Euploe callithoe duerrsteini. The design was also based on a photograph by Mr M S Upton of a specimen collected by Mr W W Brandt in the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra. This stamp was also printed multi-colour photogravure by Helio Courvoisier SA of Switzerland on unwatermarked granite paper with yellow tropical gum in sheets of 50 (5 x 10) perforated 11¹/₂.
By early 1967, it was evident that the demand for the $1 and $2 denominations of the Butterfly series would result in exhaustion of stocks before the end of the year. Because the high values of the Shell series were due for release in August 1968, it was thought that supplies of the $1 and $2 values of the Butterflies would be ample to meet sales until that date.  Instructions had been given to Courvoisier SA to destroy all printing instruments, including defacement of the cylinders and the destruction of the original photo plates. This made it impossible to have reprints made from the original plates and, as an added obstacle, Courvoisier's printing programme did not allow them to produce small quantities of both values as a new printing.  A suggested alternative was a new printing of the $1 value to meet postal requirements, and if an amount of $2 was required, they would be used in pairs.  However, demands by postal and philatelic sources made it essential that a $2 value be included. It was also decided to order larger printings than required of both the $1 and $2 values.  These stamps were printed from new plates prepared by Courvoisier SA.
In the meantime, to keep faith with philatelists who required complete sets, post offices were requested to sell 50c stamps in multiples for postal purposes and to reserve the existing stocks of both the $1 and $2 stamps for philatelic sales.  By the end of July 1967, the situation had eased as the new printings of the $1 and $2 values were received from Switzerland and issued to all post offices and the Philatelic Bureau.  This second printing may be distinguished from the first printing by the following characteristics:
$1 Second Printing: Lettering 'DOLESCHALLIA DASCYLUS, 'PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA' and '$1' in thinner letters than the first printing.  There are minor differences in the veins and the colourings of the wings of the butterfly, also the blue background is paler than in the first printing and the outline and colour toning of the background leaves are lighter than in the first printing.
$2 Second Printing: Lettering 'ORNITHOPTERA PARADISEA', 'PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA' and '$2' in thinner letters than the first printing. The background detail and leaves are clearer than in the first printing and there are also minor variations in the  wings.

Acknowledgement: 'Franklin's Guide to the Stamps of Papua & New Guinea', upon which this article is based.