How do I reproduce a calligraphic Z (that looks like an L) from a text by Abramowitz and Stegun?
This letter is not an L but a Z. According to Detexify, you can typeset it using
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\mathscr{Z}
I can't resist showing you a French calligraphic school writing font and its pretty capital letters.
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[margin=1cm]{geometry}
\usepackage{frcursive}
\begin{document}
\begin{cursive}I can't resist showing you a French calligraphic school writing font and its pretty capital letters: \end{cursive}
\textcursive{L Z}
\begin{cursive}A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z\end{cursive}
\end{document}
The following also works
\usepackage{calrsfs}
\mathcal{Z}