OK, my problem is fixed -- somehow ....
don@dibl-patience:~$ sudo apt policy xsane iscan libsane
[sudo] password for don:
xsane:
Installed: 0.999-12
Candidate: 0.999-12
Version table:
*** 0.999-12 500
500 http://httpredir.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
iscan:
Installed: 2.30.4-2
Candidate: 2.30.4-2
Version table:
*** 2.30.4-2 100
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
libsane:
Installed: 1.0.32-4
Candidate: 1.0.32-4
Version table:
*** 1.0.32-4 500
500 http://httpredir.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
don@dibl-patience:~$ scanimage --list-devices
device `epson2:libusb:003:003' is a Epson Perfection1640 flatbed scanner
device `epkowa:usb:003:003' is a Epson Perfection 1640 flatbed scanner
The second device shown above, the "epkowa" scanner, works, if I select it from the (new) two-scanner list found by skanlite. There was no such scanner found before I installed this driver, but the "epson" scanner always worked. Now the "epson" scanner still does not work, but I have my scanning capability back, so I'm marking this issue resolved. Thank you very much, charleyheinz!