In 1871, before he was out of his teens, his career began with a job as the political cartoonist for a local newspaper in Aguascalientes, "El Jicote" ("The Bumblebee"), where his first cartoons were published. The newspaper closed after 11 issues, reputedly because one of Posada's cartoons had offended a powerful local politician. In 1872, Posada and Pedroza dedicated themselves to commercial lithography in León, Guanajuato. While in Leon, Posada opened his own workshop and worked as a teacher of lithography at the local secondary school. He also continued his work with lithographs and wood engravings. In 1873, he returned to his home in Aguascalientes City where he married María de Jesús Vela in 1875. The following year he purchased the printing press from Pedroza.