Comment 1 for bug 244271

works-for-me with Inkscape 0.46-2 and Inkscape 0-47pre4 on OS X 10.5.8, both for selecting objects and for selecting nodes.

@Anders - this is already implemented in Inkscape 0.46. You can find detailed information in the manual <http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Select.html> - Selecting with the Mouse:
«Shift+Left Mouse Drag: Add Objects to Collection: Add objects within the rubber band to a preexisting selection. Also inhibits selection of an object under the start of the drag (without the shift, an object under the start of a drag is selected and moved). Selected objects within the rubber band are not deselected.»

Proposing to close this report as 'Invalid'.