Mr. Stern, I believe I found it and we should probably check original
sources to make sure some sort of misprint did not occur. Sometimes
problems are correct as published, but republished incorrectly.

One of the joys in being a problemist - a solver or composer - is
fixing old problems that have various flaws in them; at least it can be
for me. For then, if the problem was incorrect, but can be fixed, we
then get to have our names on the diagram with the author as follows:

Kenneth Howard
v. Stern and Dowd

For me, it feels like I am reaching back in history to lend a hand to
those great composers of the past, and all subsequent publications of
the problem would include our variation. It is like the time I found a
TN in a game that Rudolf Spielmann lost (a King's Gambit, no less!) and
I was able to spring that TN on a strong opponent - I somehow felt that
"Rudy" and I had something in common. But not everyone is as romantic
as me!

A white pawn on a2 would indeed solve the dual solution, as you note,
but you assumed that the white pawn a4 must also be there. Well, that
is true, if the black pawn remains on a7. But if we retract the WP a4
to a2 and bring the BP a7 forward to a4, then I believe only the
author's intended solution of 1. d8R! holds. 1. d8R! a3, and then as
intended in the author's solution.

If this does not involve a misprint, I would love to include this new
version in my column next month, with you of course as first "fixer" of
the problem (as above), since you noted that a Pa2 would fix it, but
assumed it needed to be *another* pawn instead, not realizing one can
simply bring the white a4 pawn back and the a7 pawn forward.

I will check all sources first; we may end up disappointed, and find
the problem was published correctly to begin with, and something
happened in the reprint process.

Could you please check any sources you might find as well, and also
check it on Popeye - I've checked mine on two different programs, but
as you can see from my first reply, I don't always trust the computer!

If this interests you, contact me here or at -
remove the nospam, of course.

Congratulations on your find, and maybe this will encourage you to
compose problems of your own as well.