10 Rarest Albums In Existence

3. The Beatles – ‘White Album’ – $790,000

Why $790,000 for a copy of the ninth and only double album by The Beatles? The album had a plain white sleeve and has no graphics or text other than the band's name but each unit of the White Album came with its own serial number on the front. The one that went for $790,000 had #0000001 as its serial number. Before bidding it had a pre-auction estimate of $40,000 - $60,000, a price tag that was quickly exceeded during bidding.

The first four pressings of the album belonged to a different Beatle. #0000001 was rumoured to belong to John Lennon for the longest time, who Paul claimed “shouted the loudest” for it. It was later revealed it was actually Ringo who was in possession of it. He kept it in a London bank vault for over 35 years.

Starr said “We used to play the vinyl in those days. We didn’t think, ‘We’ll keep it for 50 years and it will be in pristine condition.’ Whoever gets it, it will have my fingerprints on it.”

Copy No. 0000005 sold at an auction in 2008 for a little less than $30,000. Next time you’re rifling through your grandparents’ record collections, start fiercely scouring the front for #0000006.