About us
Bostan Bookbinding is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated bookbinding business.
Our craft began with Agustín Molina in the 1960s in Guanajuato, Mexico. José began Bostan in 1998 and later took the business to Washington, DC. Ana María, José’s wife, now serves as the head of business. Our work has transcended borders and generations, and we take pride in preserving that tradition.
We specialize in restoration, conservation, stamping, and bookbinding. Common requests for restoration include family heirloom Bibles, de-acidification of older books, torn pages, broken spines, and clamshells. Common requests for bindings are: photo albums, binders, wedding albums, and custom creations.
We’ve worked with government agencies, senators, museums, universities, and even made a book for Pope John Paul II. Though we cannot specify all due to privacy, some of our clients are listed below.
Get to know our Bookbinders:
José Socorro Molina is a master bookbinder living in Germantown, Maryland. He began bookbinding with his father in Mexico City when he was just five years old. With over six decades of binding experience, José has worked for a variety of clients throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe while carefully preserving his family’s tradition. His works have been received by libraries, museums, pontiffs, and heads of state. José’s mastery of hand-stamping and gold tooling makes his bindings unique and expertly crafted works of art.
Meet José
Master Bookbinder
Meet Ana María
Master Bookbinder
Ana María García Molina has 35 years of bookbinding experience, specializing in antique book restoration and conservation. Her expertise in color and design helps fulfill her clients’ vision while adhering to the identity of the book. When restoring or conserving a book, she always prioritizes ethical and respectful care for the original piece. Her restoration work appears in museums in the Washington, DC, area, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Ana María handmakes Bostan’s marbled paper used in both new binding and restoration projects.
Inés Daniela Molina is a fourth-generation bookbinder whose undergraduate research at Georgetown University focused on cultural preservation and oral history. Inés grew up in the Bostan workshop with her grandparents, and she has been binding books with José and Ana María since 2022. As an apprentice, she hand-binds books from start to finish along with José and Ana María, including restoration and paper marbling. In addition to binding books, she helps manage business strategy, finances, and public relations.
Meet Inés
Apprentice Bookbinder