Albert Einsten’s revolutionary "Annus Mirabilis" papers in the 1905 issue of Annalen der Physik were not peer-reviewed by anyone other than the journal's editor in chief, Max Planck (the father of quantum theory), and its co-editor, Wilhelm Wien. Although clearly peers (both won Nobel prizes in physics), a formal panel of reviewers was not sought, as is done for many scientific journals today. Established authors and editors were given more latitude in their journalistic discretion, back then
The Annus Mirabilis Papers (from Latin, Annus mirabilis, for 'extraordinary year') are the papers of Albert Einstein published in the "Annalen der Physik" scientific journal in 1905. These four articles contributed substantially to the foundation of modern physics and changed views on space, time, and matter.