Teague’s first published story illustration ran in the October 1921 edition of Everybody’s Magazine.  The following month, his second ran in the glossy magazine The Delineator.  1922 brought assignments for St. Nicholas magazine, and additional work with Everybody’s.  1923 was Teague’s breakthrough year, when he first gained assignments for The Saturday Evening Post.  In 1923, Teague also got his first assignment for The Elks Magazine.  Teague illustrated a total of 21 stories for The Elks.  Below is a representative sample of Teague’s first published story illustrations.  

A funny story goes with the bear illustration for The Last Parrakeet (June 1923).  Teague was typically paid $25 per illustration by St. Nicholas.  However, the art editor only paid him $15 for the bear illustration, because he claimed animals were easier.  Teague was not pleased at being short-changed for his work – which may explain why this was the last story he did for St. Nicholas!  Story text has been omitted for a cleaner presentation.