how to adjust the wooden shelves?

Most early cases use a system of wooden ratchets. You will find vertical notched rails set into the four inner corners of the upper section. To move a shelf, simply lift the horizontal wooden cleats resting in these notches. Shift them to the desired height and lower the shelf back onto the supports.

My grandad gave me this tall glass cabinet for books but the doors stick terribly in the summer when the weather gets humid.

This happens because the carcase timber absorbs moisture from the air. The pine or oak beneath the veneer swells during damp months, expanding the doors against the frame. Try waxing the contact edges where the door meets the carcase. A simple paste wax reduces friction and sometimes seals the bare wood enough to slow the moisture absorption.

what is a stepped cornice for?

The projecting cornice serves an architectural purpose. It balances the visual weight of the heavy lower section. Cabinetmakers borrowed these profiles directly from classical stone architecture. It gives the case a finished roofline.

I am trying to figure out if it is safe to put very heavy encyclopedias on the top shelves or if they will bow the wood over time?

Antique solid timber shelves usually handle heavy loads well. If the shelf is original, it has probably held similar weights for over two centuries. Keep an eye on the span length. Shorter spans resist bowing better than wide, uninterrupted shelves. If you notice a sag developing, move the heaviest volumes to the lower enclosed section. The base cabinet often rests directly on the floor or sturdy feet. This makes it the most secure spot for dense reference books.

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Antique Walnut Bookcases from the 19th Century

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Tall wooden cabinets built with glazed upper doors and enclosed lower sections, designed to protect bound volumes from dust while displaying the spines through the glass.