The German Lenormand deck origin has been described by DDD "Wicked Pack of Cards" at p. 141.
It developed as "Spiel der Hoffnung" (Game of Hope) and it was a race game (made with cards, which were composed to a playing board in the mid of the table), , produced by G.P.J. Bieling in Nuremberg in Germany.
I looked it up and found an announcement of the year 1799 in a book made by the publisher G.P.J. Bieling. The book itself has humorous aspects and nothing to do with the game, the author writes with pseudonym.
http://books.google.de/books?id=kU9...AzgK#v=onepage&q="Spiel der Hoffnung"&f=false
Bieling was just a publisher, it's not naturally given, that he was the author. The printing house existed since 1760.
Depaulis notes, that the primary interest was in the running game, but thatsome explanation text offers the iea, tha one could also useit in a diviniatory manner, but would have to keep 4 cards aside (so they likely knew a 32-cards-divination-system, but not a system with 36 card).
The divination cards (DDD states, that they existed about 1850) later took the name "Petit Lenormand". But: It was never produced in France, though beside in Germany in Belgium, Austria and Switzerland. The version is still rather popular and it's a question, if in Germany Petit Lenormand or Tarot decks have the higher acceptance.