diff --git a/src/canvas.rs b/src/canvas.rs
index b33abe3..0729189 100644
--- a/src/canvas.rs
+++ b/src/canvas.rs
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 //  You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 //  along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-use std::vec::Vec;
-
 use im::{vector, Vector};
 
 use serde::de::{Deserializer, SeqAccess, Visitor};
@@ -128,12 +126,26 @@ impl CanvasElement {
             }
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn draw_selected(&self, ctx: &mut druid::PaintCtx) {
+        match self {
+            CanvasElement::Freehand {
+                path,
+                thickness,
+                ..
+            } => {
+                use druid::RenderContext;
+                ctx.stroke(&path.kurbo_path, &druid::Color::rgb(10.0, 0.0, 255.0), *thickness * 1.4);
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, druid::Data)]
 pub struct Canvas {
     elements: Vector<CanvasElement>,
     content_size: druid::Size,
+    selected_elements: Vector<usize>,
 }
 
 impl Canvas {
@@ -141,6 +153,7 @@ impl Canvas {
         Canvas {
             elements: vector![],
             content_size: druid::Size::new(0.0, 0.0),
+            selected_elements: vector![],
         }
     }
 
@@ -165,25 +178,43 @@ impl Canvas {
         &self.elements
     }
 
-    /// Find all CanvasElement that intersect with rect
-    pub fn find_intersections(&self, rect: druid::Rect) -> Vec<usize> {
-        let mut found_elements = Vec::<usize>::new();
-
+    pub fn has_elements_interesecting(&self, rect: druid::Rect) -> bool {
         for (i, elem) in self.elements.iter().enumerate() {
             // Check if the element intersects the eraser rect
             if elem.bounding_box().intersect(rect).area() > 0.0 {
                 if elem.intersects_rect(rect) {
-                    found_elements.push(i);
+                    return true;
                 }
             }
         }
+        false
+    }
 
+    /// Find all CanvasElement that intersect with rect
+    pub fn find_elements_intersecting(&self, rect: druid::Rect) -> Vector<usize> {
+        let found_elements = self.elements.iter().enumerate()
+            .filter_map(|(i, elem)| {
+                if elem.bounding_box().intersect(rect).area() > 0.0 {
+                    if elem.intersects_rect(rect) {
+                        return Some(i);
+                    }
+                }
+                None
+            }).collect::<Vector<usize>>();
         found_elements
     }
 
     pub fn content_size(&self) -> druid::Size {
         self.content_size
     }
+
+    pub fn selected_elements(&self) -> &Vector<usize> {
+        &self.selected_elements
+    }
+
+    pub fn selected_elements_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Vector<usize> {
+        &mut self.selected_elements
+    }
 }
 
 impl Serialize for Path {
diff --git a/src/history.rs b/src/history.rs
index 7acc021..5eea309 100644
--- a/src/history.rs
+++ b/src/history.rs
@@ -14,27 +14,26 @@
 //  You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 //  along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-use super::canvas::Canvas;
 use im::Vector;
 
 #[derive(Clone, druid::Data)]
-pub struct VersionedCanvas {
+pub struct Versioned<T: druid::Data + Clone> {
     // We internally guarantee that this vector
     // is never empty
-    versions: Vector<Canvas>,
+    versions: Vector<T>,
     curr_version: usize,
 }
 
-impl VersionedCanvas {
-    pub fn new(canvas: Canvas) -> VersionedCanvas {
-        VersionedCanvas {
-            versions: im::vector![canvas],
+impl<T: druid::Data + Clone> Versioned<T> {
+    pub fn new(first_version: T) -> Versioned<T> {
+        Versioned {
+            versions: im::vector![first_version],
             curr_version: 0,
         }
     }
 
-    // Get current canvas version
-    pub fn get(&self) -> &Canvas {
+    // Get current version
+    pub fn get(&self) -> &T {
         self.versions.get(self.curr_version).unwrap()
     }
 
@@ -58,10 +57,10 @@ impl VersionedCanvas {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn update(&mut self, update_fn: impl FnOnce(&mut Canvas)) {
-        // Make a new copy of the current canvas version,
+    pub fn update(&mut self, update_fn: impl FnOnce(&mut T)) {
+        // Make a new copy of the current version,
         // so that we can safely modify it without losing
-        // the previous canvas version
+        // the previous version
         let mut new_version = self.get().clone();
         update_fn(&mut new_version);
 
@@ -77,8 +76,8 @@ impl VersionedCanvas {
     }
 
     // Do inplace update, which will be irreversible
-    pub fn irreversible_update(&mut self, update_fn: impl FnOnce(&mut Canvas)) {
-        // Do the update directly on the current canvas version
+    pub fn irreversible_update(&mut self, update_fn: impl FnOnce(&mut T)) {
+        // Do the update directly on the current version
         update_fn(self.versions.back_mut().unwrap());
 
         // This is a linear history,
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 0b239c2..245b865 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ pub mod tool;
 pub mod widget;
 pub mod migration;
 
+pub mod colors {
+    //use druid::Color;
+    //pub const SELECTED_STROKE: Color = Color::rgb(10.0, 0.0, 255.0);
+}
+
 pub mod commands {
     use druid::Selector;
 
@@ -46,3 +51,5 @@ impl DocumentSnapshot {
         serde_bare::to_writer(writer, &self)
     }
 }
+
+pub type VersionedCanvas = history::Versioned<canvas::Canvas>;
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 8d2edf5..d4121f6 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ pub fn main() {
                 tool_params: CanvasToolParams::Eraser,
                 selected: false,
             },
+            CanvasToolIconState {
+                tool_params: CanvasToolParams::RectangularSelection,
+                selected: false,
+            },
         ],
         current_tool: 0,
         eraser_tool_id: 2,
@@ -100,9 +104,9 @@ impl StilettoState {
         self.tool_icons.get_mut(old_tool).unwrap().selected = false;
         self.tool_icons.get_mut(new_tool).unwrap().selected = true;
         self.current_tool = new_tool;
-        self.canvas.set_tool_ctx(CanvasToolCtx::new(
+        self.canvas.change_tool(
             self.tool_icons.get(new_tool).unwrap().tool_params.clone(),
-        ));
+        );
     }
 }
 
@@ -116,6 +120,18 @@ fn build_ui() -> impl Widget<StilettoState> {
             |_ctx: &mut EventCtx, data: &mut StilettoState, _env: &Env| data.canvas.perform_redo(),
         ));
 
+    let selection_buttons = Flex::row()
+        .cross_axis_alignment(CrossAxisAlignment::Center)
+        .with_child(Button::new("Copy").on_click(
+            |_ctx: &mut EventCtx, data: &mut StilettoState, _env: &Env| {},
+        ))
+        .with_child(Button::new("Cut").on_click(
+            |_ctx: &mut EventCtx, data: &mut StilettoState, _env: &Env| {},
+        ))
+        .with_child(Button::new("Delete").on_click(
+            |_ctx: &mut EventCtx, data: &mut StilettoState, _env: &Env| data.canvas.delete_selected(),
+        ));
+
     let stlt = FileSpec::new("Stiletto notebook", &["stlt"]);
     let save_dialog_options = FileDialogOptions::new()
         .allowed_types(vec![stlt])
@@ -174,6 +190,8 @@ fn build_ui() -> impl Widget<StilettoState> {
         .with_spacer(30.0)
         .with_flex_child(Align::left(history_buttons), 1.0)
         .with_spacer(10.0)
+        .with_flex_child(Align::left(selection_buttons), 1.0)
+        .with_spacer(10.0)
         .with_flex_child(Align::left(tool_buttons), 2.0)
         .with_spacer(20.0)
         .with_flex_child(Align::right(save_buttons), 1.0)
diff --git a/src/tool.rs b/src/tool.rs
index 2c57785..8639cc0 100644
--- a/src/tool.rs
+++ b/src/tool.rs
@@ -20,11 +20,13 @@ use druid::{Color, Data};
 pub enum CanvasToolParams {
     Pen { thickness: f64, color: Color },
     Eraser,
+    RectangularSelection,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub enum CanvasToolType {
     Pen,
     Eraser,
+    RectangularSelection,
 }
 
diff --git a/src/widget/canvas.rs b/src/widget/canvas.rs
index f29cce4..e3216b5 100644
--- a/src/widget/canvas.rs
+++ b/src/widget/canvas.rs
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@
 
 use im::Vector;
 
-use super::tool_ctx::{CanvasToolCtx};
-use crate::canvas::Canvas;
-use crate::history::VersionedCanvas;
-use crate::DocumentSnapshot;
+use super::tool_ctx::{CanvasToolCtx, CanvasToolState};
+use crate::canvas::{Canvas, CanvasElement};
+use crate::tool::CanvasToolParams;
+use crate::{DocumentSnapshot, VersionedCanvas};
 
 use druid::widget::prelude::*;
-use druid::{Color, Data, Env, Event, PointerType};
+use druid::{Color, Data, Env, Event, PointerType, Selector};
 
 #[derive(Clone, Data)]
 pub struct CanvasState {
@@ -42,12 +42,14 @@ impl CanvasState {
     pub fn perform_undo(&mut self) {
         //if !self.is_drawing() {
         self.versioned_canvas.undo();
+        self.set_ctx_selection_state();
         //}
     }
 
     pub fn perform_redo(&mut self) {
         //if !self.is_drawing() {
         self.versioned_canvas.redo();
+        self.set_ctx_selection_state();
         //}
     }
 
@@ -71,6 +73,44 @@ impl CanvasState {
         )));
     }
 
+    fn set_ctx_selection_state(&mut self) {
+        if !self.versioned_canvas.get().selected_elements().is_empty() {
+            self.tool_ctx.set_state(CanvasToolState::ActiveSelection);
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn delete_selected(&mut self) {
+        let selected_elements = self.versioned_canvas.get().selected_elements();
+        if !selected_elements.is_empty() {
+            if !selected_elements.is_empty() {
+                let elements = self.versioned_canvas.get().elements();
+                // TODO(enrico): is this memory efficient?
+                //               what is the difference between this and
+                //               im::Vector::retain?
+                let new_elements = elements.iter().enumerate()
+                    .filter_map(|(i, elem)| {
+                        if !selected_elements.contains(&i) {
+                            Some(elem)
+                        } else {
+                            None
+                        }
+                    })
+                    .cloned()
+                    .collect::<Vector<CanvasElement>>();
+
+                self.versioned_canvas.update(move |canvas: &mut Canvas| {
+                    *canvas = Canvas::new_with_elements(new_elements);
+                });
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+
+    /// Changes tool while mantaining the current CanvasToolCtx
+    pub fn change_tool(&mut self, tool_params: CanvasToolParams) {
+        self.tool_ctx.set_params(tool_params);
+    }
+
     pub fn set_tool_ctx(&mut self, ctx: CanvasToolCtx) {
         self.tool_ctx = ctx;
     }
@@ -91,12 +131,28 @@ impl CanvasState {
 
 pub struct CanvasWidget;
 
+impl CanvasWidget {
+    pub const IS_OVER_SELECTION: Selector<bool> = Selector::new("is_over_selection");
+}
+
 impl Widget<CanvasState> for CanvasWidget {
     fn event(&mut self, ctx: &mut EventCtx, event: &Event, data: &mut CanvasState, env: &Env) {
         ctx.request_focus();
         let mut toggle_eraser_event = false;
         let mut enable_temporary_erasing = false;
         match event {
+            Event::Notification(cmd) => {
+                cmd.get(CanvasWidget::IS_OVER_SELECTION).map(|is_over_sel| {
+                    if *is_over_sel {
+                        use druid::Cursor;
+                        ctx.set_cursor(&Cursor::OpenHand);
+                    } else {
+                        // TODO: this is not correct. Must check if had modified cursor before
+                        ctx.clear_cursor();
+                    }
+                });
+                ctx.set_handled();
+            }
             Event::MouseDown(mouse_event) => {
                 toggle_eraser_event = true;
                 enable_temporary_erasing = mouse_event.pointer_type == PointerType::Eraser;
@@ -178,11 +234,20 @@ impl Widget<CanvasState> for CanvasWidget {
         let rect = size.to_rect();
 
         ctx.fill(rect, &Color::WHITE);
-        for element in data.versioned_canvas.get().elements().iter() {
-            element.draw(ctx);
+        let canvas = data.versioned_canvas.get();
+        let selected = canvas.selected_elements();
+
+        for (pos, element) in canvas.elements().iter().enumerate() {
+            if data.tool_ctx.has_active_selection() && selected.contains(&pos) {
+                element.draw_selected(ctx);
+            } else {
+                element.draw(ctx);
+            }
         }
         if data.tool_ctx.needs_repaint() {
             data.tool_ctx.paint(ctx, env);
         }
+
+
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/widget/tool_ctx.rs b/src/widget/tool_ctx.rs
index 2dc95f1..88b9abf 100644
--- a/src/widget/tool_ctx.rs
+++ b/src/widget/tool_ctx.rs
@@ -16,10 +16,13 @@
 
 use crate::tool::{CanvasToolParams, CanvasToolType};
 use crate::canvas::{Canvas, CanvasElement};
-use crate::history::VersionedCanvas;
+use crate::widget::CanvasWidget;
+use crate::VersionedCanvas;
 
 use druid::kurbo::BezPath;
-use druid::{Data, Env, Event, EventCtx, MouseButton, MouseEvent, PaintCtx};
+use druid::{Color, Data, Env, Event, EventCtx, MouseButton, MouseEvent, PaintCtx, RenderContext};
+
+use im::{vector, Vector};
 
 #[derive(Clone, Data)]
 pub enum CanvasToolState {
@@ -29,6 +32,12 @@ pub enum CanvasToolState {
         current_path: CanvasElement,
     },
     Erasing,
+    SelectingRect {
+        origin: druid::Point,
+        current_rect: druid::Rect,
+    },
+    DraggingSelection,
+    ActiveSelection,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Data)]
@@ -42,6 +51,7 @@ impl CanvasToolParams {
         match self {
             CanvasToolParams::Pen { .. } => CanvasToolType::Pen,
             CanvasToolParams::Eraser => CanvasToolType::Eraser,
+            CanvasToolParams::RectangularSelection => CanvasToolType::RectangularSelection,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -51,6 +61,14 @@ fn pressed(mouse_event: &MouseEvent) -> bool {
         || mouse_event.button == MouseButton::Left
 }
 
+fn is_over_active_selection(mouse_event: &MouseEvent, vcanvas: &VersionedCanvas) -> bool {
+    let mouse_rect = druid::Rect::from_center_size(mouse_event.pos, (5.0, 5.0));
+    // TODO(enrico): this can be faster
+    let intersecting_elements = vcanvas.get().find_elements_intersecting(mouse_rect);
+    let selected_elements = vcanvas.get().selected_elements();
+    false
+}
+
 impl CanvasToolCtx {
     pub fn new(params: CanvasToolParams) -> Self {
         CanvasToolCtx {
@@ -59,9 +77,22 @@ impl CanvasToolCtx {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn set_params(&mut self, params: CanvasToolParams) {
+        self.initial_params = params;
+        // TODO(enrico) is this necessary?
+        match self.state {
+            CanvasToolState::Idle | CanvasToolState::ActiveSelection => {}
+            _ => { self.state = CanvasToolState::Idle; }
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_state(&mut self, state: CanvasToolState) {
+        self.state = state;
+    }
+
     pub fn handle_event(
         &mut self,
-        ctx: &EventCtx,
+        mut ctx: &mut EventCtx,
         event: &Event,
         mut vcanvas: &mut VersionedCanvas,
         env: &Env,
@@ -69,6 +100,7 @@ impl CanvasToolCtx {
         match self.initial_params.tool_type() {
             CanvasToolType::Pen => self.handle_pen_event(&ctx, &event, &mut vcanvas, &env),
             CanvasToolType::Eraser => self.handle_erase_event(&ctx, &event, &mut vcanvas, &env),
+            CanvasToolType::RectangularSelection => self.handle_rectangular_select_event(&mut ctx, &event, &mut vcanvas, &env),
         }
     }
 
@@ -80,6 +112,7 @@ impl CanvasToolCtx {
         _env: &Env,
     ) {
         match (&mut self.state, event) {
+            (CanvasToolState::ActiveSelection, Event::MouseDown(mouse_event)) |
             (CanvasToolState::Idle, Event::MouseDown(mouse_event)) if pressed(mouse_event) => {
                 self.state = CanvasToolState::Erasing;
             }
@@ -117,6 +150,7 @@ impl CanvasToolCtx {
         _env: &Env,
     ) {
         match (&mut self.state, event) {
+            (CanvasToolState::ActiveSelection, Event::MouseDown(mouse_event)) |
             (CanvasToolState::Idle, Event::MouseDown(mouse_event)) if pressed(mouse_event) => {
                 let mut kurbo_path = BezPath::new();
                 kurbo_path.move_to((mouse_event.pos.x, mouse_event.pos.y));
@@ -137,7 +171,7 @@ impl CanvasToolCtx {
                     ..
                 },
                 Event::MouseMove(mouse_event),
-            ) => if pressed(mouse_event) {
+            ) if pressed(mouse_event) => {
                 if let CanvasElement::Freehand { ref mut path, .. } = current_path {
                     path.kurbo_path
                         .line_to((mouse_event.pos.x, mouse_event.pos.y));
@@ -158,6 +192,7 @@ impl CanvasToolCtx {
                                 thickness,
                                 stroke_color,
                             });
+                            *canvas.selected_elements_mut() = vector![];
                         }
                     }
                 });
@@ -166,13 +201,78 @@ impl CanvasToolCtx {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn handle_rectangular_select_event(
+        &mut self,
+        ctx: &mut EventCtx,
+        event: &Event,
+        vcanvas: &mut VersionedCanvas,
+        _env: &Env,
+    ) {
+        match (&mut self.state, event) {
+            (CanvasToolState::ActiveSelection, Event::MouseMove(mouse_event)) if !pressed(mouse_event) => {
+                ctx.submit_notification(CanvasWidget::IS_OVER_SELECTION.with(is_over_active_selection(mouse_event, vcanvas)));
+            }
+            (CanvasToolState::ActiveSelection, Event::MouseDown(mouse_event)) if pressed(mouse_event)
+                && is_over_active_selection(mouse_event, vcanvas) => {
+            }
+            (CanvasToolState::DraggingSelection, Event::MouseMove(mouse_event)) if pressed(mouse_event) => {
+            }
+            (CanvasToolState::DraggingSelection, Event::MouseUp(mouse_event)) if pressed(mouse_event) => {
+            }
+
+            (CanvasToolState::ActiveSelection, Event::MouseDown(mouse_event)) |
+            (CanvasToolState::Idle, Event::MouseDown(mouse_event)) if pressed(mouse_event) => {
+                self.state = CanvasToolState::SelectingRect {
+                    origin: mouse_event.pos,
+                    current_rect: druid::Rect::from_origin_size(mouse_event.pos, (0.0, 0.0))
+                };
+            }
+
+            (CanvasToolState::SelectingRect{ ref mut current_rect, ref origin }, Event::MouseMove(mouse_event)) if pressed(mouse_event) => {
+                *current_rect = druid::Rect::from_origin_size(*origin, (0.0, 0.0))
+                    .union_pt(mouse_event.pos);
+            }
+
+            (CanvasToolState::SelectingRect{ ref mut current_rect, ref origin }, Event::MouseUp(mouse_event)) if pressed(mouse_event) => {
+                *current_rect = druid::Rect::from_origin_size(*origin, (0.0, 0.0))
+                    .union_pt(mouse_event.pos);
+                let elements = vcanvas.get().elements();
+                let selected_elements_idx = elements.iter().enumerate()
+                    .filter_map(|(i, elem)| {
+                        let bbox = elem.bounding_box();
+                        let p0 = druid::Point::new(bbox.x0, bbox.y0);
+                        let p1 = druid::Point::new(bbox.x1, bbox.y1);
+                        if current_rect.contains(p0) && current_rect.contains(p1) {
+                            return Some(i);
+                        }
+                        None
+                    }).collect::<Vector<usize>>();
+                if !elements.is_empty() {
+                    vcanvas.update(move |canvas: &mut Canvas| {
+                        *canvas.selected_elements_mut() = selected_elements_idx;
+                    });
+                }
+                self.state = CanvasToolState::ActiveSelection;
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn needs_repaint(&self) -> bool {
         true
     }
 
+    pub fn has_active_selection(&self) -> bool {
+        match self.state {
+            CanvasToolState::ActiveSelection => true,
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn paint(&self, ctx: &mut PaintCtx, _env: &Env) {
         match &self.state {
             CanvasToolState::DrawingFreehand { current_path, .. } => current_path.draw(ctx),
+            CanvasToolState::SelectingRect { current_rect, .. } => ctx.stroke(current_rect, &Color::BLACK, 0.5),
             _ => {}
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/widget/tool_icon.rs b/src/widget/tool_icon.rs
index 4bcfb36..8910ea7 100644
--- a/src/widget/tool_icon.rs
+++ b/src/widget/tool_icon.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ impl CanvasToolIconState {
             CanvasToolParams::Eraser => include_str!("../../icons/eraser.svg")
                 .parse::<SvgData>()
                 .unwrap(),
+            CanvasToolParams::RectangularSelection => include_str!("../../icons/eraser.svg")
+                .parse::<SvgData>()
+                .unwrap(),
         }
     }
 }