Top 10 Rarest Records Atlas Records Sold In May 2025

A month of varied genres, this month's rarest record list features everything from The Beatles, to rare white labels, to limited edition pressings.

Did any of your favourites make the cut? Read on to discover the top ten rarest records we sold in May 2025.

A highly sought after release here at Atlas Records, as most copies we find are not in a saleable condition. To find a copy of this box set in excellent condition like this one made it a very desirable item. Included in this release was the original poster, also uncommonly found in any second hand record, as many posters would have been taken out by the original owner to put on display. 

Limited to 500 copies worldwide, this was the fifth EP released by this alternative rock band. This specific copy, while played, was preserved in its original shrink wrap, keeping it in near pristine condition. Because of its scarcity, having it kept in this condition made this record highly desirable.

This is the third studio album released by the electronic group, Massive Attack. It explores a darker aesthetic than its predecessors, influenced by industrial music. It is the group's more commercially successful album, topping the charts in multiple countries and selling more than 2.5 million copies worldwide.

White labels are something a keen collector would jump at the chance to own. They are released as test pressings of a new album, and generally released to a select few before the album's official release, almost like the proof copy of a book. Today, many white labels, particularly of rock albums, are a very valuable item to add to a collection.  

A very popular artist here at Atlas Records, we see Joy Division records almost daily. This release of Unknown Pleasures is an early issue with a textured sleeve, with the record being mastered by George Peckham - signing himself 'Porky'. The matrix information of 'A Porky Prime Cut', distinguishes this release from its peers, and Porky cuts are often seen as more collectable, as he was responsible for cutting some of the most influential English records during the 1980s.

The only Beatles record on the list this month, this first UK press of Yellow Submarine is distinguishable by its unique -1 -1 matrix information, which is specific to the first UK pressing. For any Beatles fan, owning a first pressing creates a talking point, a display piece, and also generally means that you own the records cut from the original master recordings, which can enhance the sound.  

Also known as 'The Butterfly Package', this box set, recorded in 2017 and released in 2018 marked the first time Coldplay released this concert in its entirety. Released across three gold LPs, the colour of these LPs also makes this box set more of a rarity, because coloured vinyl has only become more mainstream in the last 20 years. 

Into the final three for the month of May! This scarce release of The Machine's Solar Corona album was released as a limited edition run of 400 copies pressed on black vinyl. Only 500 copies of this album exist on vinyl worldwide, the extra 100 being pressed in transparent orange. 

This copy of May Blitz not only had a misprint where Track B1 was credited as "Squeet" on the sleeve, and appears as "SQEET" on the B side label, it also had Vertigo Swirl labels, which are sought after by collectors due to their scarcity. The design seen on this record is the short-lived, original format that Vertigo Labels used between 1969-1973. The label is known for its use on progressive rock music, and other, non-mainstream styles.

Onto the rarest record we sold in May 2025. Basil Kirchin was an innovator in the electronic jazz genre, who played with sound in a unique way. Sources of sound in his albums ranged from flamingos, to various amplified insects and birds. 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.

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.