Top 10 Rarest Records Atlas Records Sold In 2025

2025 has been a very varied year for rare record sales here at Atlas Records. We have seen the favourites cropping up time and time again, like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, but the collections we have purchased this year have had a wide range of more obscure rarities, including an entire collection of Vertigo Swirl records - a must-have record label for fans of metal, hard rock and prog rock. 

Read on to discover the top ten rarest records we sold this year - number one won't be what you expect!

In at number 10 we have a first pressing of Nick Drake's Pink Moon. This was released on pink rimmed Island Labels - one of the earliest iterations of the Island Records' labels. This copy also had its original blue island records inner sleeve, which is a common companion to the pink rimmed label. Pink rimmed Island labels are often indicative of first or early pressings, so if you have one in your collection, you could have a rare pressing.

Released in a leathery textured box, The Beatles Collection features the band's best-selling albums, plus some rarities. Because it compiles The Beatles' best loved albums, it is a collection at the top of many a Beatles fan's want list. 

Pressed after the initial run of turquoise lettered sleeves, the plum and orange label with an orange lettered sleeve is a highly sought after pressing of Led Zeppelin's first album. There were different versions of these early pressings, as the label was prone to being misprinted in various ways. If you own a copy, check your label for spelling errors, or split publishing credits to identify which edition you have. 

Counting up the Led Zeppelin albums, we have their second album taking the number seven spot. First pressings of this album have 'Live Lovin' Wreck' printed on the B side label, with Wreck later being replaced with Maid. Many Led Zeppelin albums have their fair share of nuances and misprints, making collecting multiple iterations of their albums almost like completing a set. 

An unusual box set takes the sixth spot this year. Printed in the USA in 2012, and containing 9 LPs, 5 CDs and a DVD, this remastered box set was limited to 2000 copies. With a portion of the original sales being donated to the 9/11 memorial, the music this box set contains was dedicated to those who perished as a result of the events of 9/11, and a copy was inducted into the 9/11 memorial museum. 

This copy of (A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man had Vertigo Swirl labels, which are sought after by collectors due to their scarcity. The label is known for its use on progressive rock music, and other, non-mainstream styles. The design seen on this record is the short-lived, original format that Vertigo Labels used between 1969-1973. Vertigo Swirl labels are often synonymous with first pressings, so if you have a Vertigo Swirl record in your collection, it could be one of value. 

Released in 1969, Andromeda's self-titled album is coming in at number four this year. They were an English psychedelic rock band from the late '60s. They didn't stick together for long, however, and split up in 1970, when John Du Cann left to join the more well-known Atomic Rooster.

This mono first pressing of Genesis' 'From Genesis To Revelation' has some subtle differences to its later counterparts, meaning it is a significantly more scarce release. Most noticeably, it has an indicator hole on the back of the sleeve, where a red inner sleeve can be seen, indicating that this is a mono release, rather than its later counterparts, which were stereo releases. There are also some label differences, with an unboxed 'Decca' logo, denoting an earlier pressing.

Last month's number 1 just missed out on taking the top spot for the year, instead taking number 2. This is one of the most sought after pressings by collectors, with many saying it is a faultless album. While this copy didn't have its original posters or stickers, first pressings of The Dark Side Of The Moon are still easily identifiable by their solid blue triangle on the centre labels. All subsequent pressings have a blue outlined triangle.  

Finally, at number one this year, we have one of the most unique albums we have ever researched. Released in 1971, Basil Kirchin's Worlds Within Worlds was an innovation in the electronic jazz genre, playing with sound like no other musician did. Sources of sound in his albums ranged from flamingos, to various amplified insects and birds, along with recordings of children from a special education school in Switzerland. His music is often described as a 'collection of sound', as it sampled the real world, and was almost a study of how people and animals communicated. This makes his albums a unique addition to any collection.

This year in rare records has spanned a wide range of genres and artists, from the mainstream to the more unique - which one is your favourite? From the top tens this year, as a favourite, I would pick The Cranberries' No Need To Argue, featured in October's blog, but collectively across the year, it looks like Led Zeppelin's and Pink Floyd's albums were featured the most, along with The Beatles and David Bowie. 

To end the year, we'll be counting down our bestselling albums and artists here and on our Facebook and Instagram, so make sure you follow along to find out our number one!

If you own, or are looking to purchase rare records, they should be kept in the best environment to prevent them from being damaged by the elements. We recommend using HDPE inner sleeves, and polythene outer sleeves, to best protect your collection. You can add them to your next order below.