Is This A Normal Thousand Island Cancel? Or A Parcel Post Cancel On A 1912 Cover?

Look like the post office clerk got a little sloppy with his ink!

First of all, the full office name is Thousand Island Park, NY.

It is likely not the usual cancel. At least in 1911, that office had a steel duplex cancel. Now, there was a major fire at TI Park on July 9, 1912:
https://tilife.org/BackIssues/Archi...and-Now.html
If the fire also hit the post office, then we might guess that the boxed cancel was used temporarily after the loss of the normal cancel. The date of receipt is July 30. You can research whether the P.O. was actually affected or not.

A US boxed cancel is not specifically a parcel post cancel, but could be used for that. It's also found used on registered mail, for example.

Not a Parcel Post cancel since Parcel Post did not begin until 1-1-1913 with details not yet fully worked out in July 1912.

This is a common city/state box cancel. It had uses as mention above as well as for cancelling forth class mail matter. However there is no indication this should be considered as forth class (1 cent per ounce). As to third class at 1 cent per 2 ounces, greeting cards, unsealed were included beginning 5-4-1911. In such a case the third class item would be over 2 ounces up to 4. The flap was not tucked in as shown by the ink stains but after 100+ years it would be hard to tell if the flap was sealed at mailing or due to storage. Third class mailing should have a business return address however some "city" mailing do not.This was not a "city" mailing.

Question to OP: Has this envelope been open along any side? Per the photos there is no obvious opened edge.

Morning all,

Yes, box cancels show up on registered covers especially from smaller post offices. Does anyone know when this type of devise was first (widely?) issued?

opened on stamp side

Then not a third class rate, including unsealed greeting cards.

As to boxed cancels, the idea of a box around a cancel was in use when the first US stamps showed up, e.g. a boxed PAID cancel. Scott #10 with a blue boxed TROY & NEW YORK/STEAM BOAT marking show the expansion started early.

I do not know when it expanded to boxed city or boxed city and state cancels but I have example which pre-date the 1912 cover shown.

Edit: Not that it is related but city and state precancels began in 1903.