Top 10 Rarest Records Ever Sold By Atlas Records

Unveiling the rarest records EVER sold by Atlas Records! This list features some well-known holy grails from the likes of The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.

Other, lesser-known highlights include early experimental electronic sounds from Basil Kirchin, and early pioneers of psychedelia and progressive rock from bands such as Andromeda and Gravy Train.

You can read our other top tens and a guide to protecting your records by exploring the rest of our blog.

Read on to discover our rarest albums ever sold by Atlas Records...

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. 

Onto the very rarest record we sold in March 2025, a copy of Gravy Train's (A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man. This copy 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. 

We get the feeling that any top ten records list would be incomplete without a Beatles record featuring in some fashion. This release of Let It Be initially came with a 164 page book titled 'The Beatles Get Back'. This limited release was distributed from May of 1970 but was then pulled from circulation in December that same year, making complete copies extremely sought after. 

A very popular artist here at Atlas Records, Nick Drake's second studio album is our 7th rarest record ever sold. Released under the Island Records label, the 1971 first pressing can fetch some very high prices thanks to its rarity. The album reportedly only sold around 3,000 copies on release, so it is likely that the number remaining, and in decent condition, is somewhere below that.

One of the most extraordinary entries ever to grace this list - and frankly, our warehouse - is this 39-LP Beatles collection released by DeAgostini. Housed across three hulking black storage boxes, the set was originally sold as a subscription series, with subscribers receiving one or two albums and a magazine written by Beatles historian Kevin Howlett every two weeks.

The result is a complete run of Beatles albums on vinyl, including all of the studio releases alongside key compilation albums and Past Masters, plus extra items such as backpacks, posters, slip mats and t-shirts.

Onto the very rarest record we sold in February 2025... This is a copy of "Andromeda" by Andromeda, 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. There are also some label differences, with an unboxed 'Decca' logo, denoting an earlier pressing. 

It appears that sales of first presses of The Dark Side Of The Moon are like buses. You wait for one to sell and they all sell at once! Hence, back in October and November 2025, Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon made the top spot twice in a row. This copy came to us in a better condition than the copy we focused on in October, and usually, rarer records in better condition will be in higher demand, especially as this album has many quieter moments, highlighting any imperfections in the press. 

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.

And at number one - could it really have been anything other than one of the true holy grails of record collecting?

Here we have a copy of Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album, featuring the iconic turquoise front cover text. Widely regarded as one of the most desirable variations of the record, this particular copy was also possibly the best condition example we’ve ever seen. Originally released in 1969, the album drew heavily from blues and folk influences of the time, including rearranged versions of songs such as Babe I'm Gonna Leave You by Anne Bredon and Dazed and Confused by Jake Holmes.

If you'd like to see more of the rare and unusual records that pass through Atlas Records, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. We post daily, sharing our latest rare finds, behind-the-scenes glimpses of how we do things here at Atlas Records, and lesser-known stories and fascinating facts about some of the most iconic albums in music history.

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.