install.versions fails for deprecated packages

[goldingn]

E.g. the rnbn package is deprecated, but the old binaries are still on MRAN. However the following fails:

versions::install.versions('rnbn', '1.1.2')

Error in if (any(as.Date(dates) < as.Date("2014-09-17"))) { : 
  missing value where TRUE/FALSE needed
In addition: Warning message:
In current.version(pkgs) :
  The current version and publication date of rnbn could not
                     be detected

and weirdly, this older version works but with a warning

versions::install.versions('rnbn', '1.0.3')

Warning message:
In current.version(pkgs) :
  The current version and publication date of rnbn could not
                     be detected

[goldingn]

This now works.