Perforating and slitting die sheet

A die assembly for cutting a material having first and second sheets in facing relationship, said second sheet being releasably attached to said first sheet, said die assembly comprising:

• a flexible die sheet including a die sheet surface having a die pattern extending outwardly from said die sheet surface to form a cutting surface of said die sheet, said die pattern being in the form of a plurality of quadrilaterals sized to produce generally standard sized individually separable postage stamps including their associated backings, having serpentine edges, said die pattern having:
• at least one slitting section having at least one cutting edge configured for providing a curvilinear, continuous opening through said second sheet of said material;
• and
• a plurality of spaced perforating sections extending outwardly from said slitting sections, each of said perforating sections having at least one cutting edge and being configured for extending at least partially through said first sheet of said material, said plurality of perforating sections configured for providing a pattern of openings in said first sheet adjacent to said curvilinear opening through said second sheet;
• a pressure surface in engagement with said flexible die sheet for applying said flexible die sheet to said material;
• and
• an adhesive securing said flexible die sheet to said pressure surface.

A flexible die sheet for cutting a material having first and second sheets in facing relationship, said second sheet being releasably attached to said first sheet, said flexible die sheet comprising:

• a flexible die sheet surface having a die pattern extending outwardly from said die sheet surface to form a cutting surface of said flexible die sheet, said die pattern being in the form of a plurality of quadrilaterals sized to produce generally standard sized individually separable postage stamps, including their associated backings. having serpentine edges, said die pattern having:
• at least one slitting section having at least one cutting edge configured for providing a curvilinear, continuous opening through said second sheet of said material;
• and
• a plurality of spaced perforating sections extending outwardly from said slitting sections, each of said perforating sections having at least one cutting edge and being configured for extending at least partially through a first sheet of said material, said plurality of perforating sections providing a pattern of openings in said first sheet adjacent to said curvilinear opening through said second sheet.