NUVEEN TAX FREE TRUST SERIES 875
487, 1996-07-11
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<PAGE>
   
                                                    FILE NO. 333-05993
                                                    40 ACT FILE NO. 811-2271
    
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-6
 
For  Registration  under  the  Securities  Act of  1933  of  Securities  of Unit
Investment Trusts Registered on
Form N-8B-2
 
   
<TABLE>
<S> <C>                 <C>
A.  Exact name of Trust: NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST, SERIES 875
B.  Name of Depositor:  JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
 
C.  Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices:
 
                        333 West Wacker Drive
                        Chicago, Illinois 60606
 
D.  Name and complete address of agents for service:
 
                        JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                        Attn: James J. Wesolowski
                        333 West Wacker Drive
                        Chicago, Illinois 60606
 
                        CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                        Attn: Eric F. Fess
                        111 West Monroe Street
                        Chicago, Illinois 60603
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
 
/ / immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
 
/ / on July 11, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (b)
/ / 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
 
/ / on July 11, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485 or 486
E.  Title and amount of  securities being registered: An  indefinite number of Units  as
    permitted by Rule 24f-2.
 
F.  Proposed  maximum offering price  to the public of  the securities being registered:
    Not presently determinable.
 
G.  Amount of filing fee: $500 in accordance with Rule 24f-2.*
 
H.  Approximate date of proposed sale  to the public: As  soon as practicable after  the
    effective date of the Registration Statement.
 
* Previously Paid
 
/X/ Check  box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective on July 11, 1996
    at 1:30 P.M. pursuant to Rule 487.
</TABLE>
    
 
<PAGE>
   
                     NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST, SERIES 875
    
 
                             CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
 
                    PURSUANT TO RULE 404(C) OF REGULATION C
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                (FORM N-8B-2 ITEMS REQUIRED BY INSTRUCTION 1 AS
                           TO PROSPECTUS ON FORM S-6)
 
<TABLE>
<C>  <S>  <C>                                          <C> <C>
FORM N-8B-2                                                FORM S-6
ITEM NUMBER                                                HEADING IN PROSPECTUS
 
          I. ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION
 1.  (a)  Name of trust                                 )  Prospectus Part A -- Cover Page
     (b)  Title of securities issued                    )
 2.  Name and address of Depositor                      )  Information About the Sponsor
 3.  Name and address of Trustee                        )  Information About the Trustee
 4.  Name and address of principal Underwriter          )  Information About the Sponsor
 5.  Organization of trust                              )  What Is The Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust?
 6.  Execution and termination of Trust Agreement       )  What Is The Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust?
                                                        )  Information About The Trustee
                                                        )  Other Information
 7.  Changes of Name                                    )  *
 8.  Fiscal Year                                        )
 9.  Litigation                                         )
 
          II. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND SECURITIES OF THE TRUST
10.  General Information regarding trust's securities   )  Summary of Portfolios
                                                        )  Why and How are the Bonds Insured?
                                                        )  When Are Distributions Made to Unitholders?
                                                        )  Ownership and Transfer of Units
                                                        )  How Units May Be Redeemed Without Charge?
                                                        )  How Bonds May Be Removed From The Trusts?
                                                        )  Information About the Trustee
                                                        )  Information About the Sponsor
                                                        )  Other Information
                                                        )  What Is The Tax Status of Unitholders?
11.  Type of securities comprising units                )  What Is The Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust?
                                                        )  Summary of Portfolios
                                                        )  Composition of Trusts
                                                        )  What Are The Objectives Of The Trusts?
                                                        )  Why and How are the Bonds Insured?
12.  Certain information regarding                      )  *
     periodic payment certificates                      )
13.  (a)  Load, fees, expenses, etc.                    )  Part A -- Essential Information
                                                        )  How Is The Public Offering Price Determined?
                                                        )  Market For Units
                                                        )  What Is Accrued Interest?
                                                        )  What Are Estimated Long Term Return
                                                        )  And Estimated Current Return?
                                                        )  How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                                        )  Determined At The Date of Deposit?
                                                        )  What Are Normal Trust Operating Expenses?
                                                        )  When Are Distributions Made To Unitholders?
                                                        )  Summary Of Portfolios
                                                        )  How Detailed Are Reports To Unitholders?
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<C>  <S>  <C>                                          <C> <C>
     (b)  Certain information regarding                 )  *
          periodic payment certificates                 )
     (c)  Certain percentages                           )  How Is The Public Offering Price Determined?
                                                        )  Market For Units
                                                        )  What Are Estimated Long Term Return
                                                        )  And Estimated Current Return?
                                                        )  How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                                        )  Determined At The Date Of Deposit?
                                                        )  What Is Accrued Interest?
     (d)  Certain other fees, etc. payable by holders   )  How Was The Price Of The Bonds Determined
                                                        )  At The Date Of Deposit?
                                                        )  What Are Normal Trust Operating Expenses?
                                                        )  Ownership And Transfer Of Units
     (e)  Certain profits receivable by depositor,      )  Composition Of Trusts
          principal underwriter, trustee or             )
          affiliated persons                            )
                                                        )  How Units May Be Purchased By The Sponsor
 
     (f)  Ratio of annual charges to income             )  *
14.  Issuance of trust's securities                     )  Summary of Portfolios
                                                        )  When Are Distributions Made To Unitholders?
                                                        )  Ownership and Transfer of Units
                                                        )  How Units May Be Redeemed Without Charge
15.  Receipt and handling of payments                   )  *
     from purchasers                                    )
16.  Acquisition and Disposition of                     )  What Is The Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust?
     Underlying Securities                              )
                                                        )  Summary of Portfolios
                                                        )  Composition of Trusts
                                                        )  Why and How are the Bonds Insured?
                                                        )  How Units May Be Redeemed Without Charge
                                                        )  How Bonds May Be Removed From The Trusts
                                                        )  Other Information
17.  Withdrawal or redemption                           )  Market For Units
                                                        )  How Units May Be Redeemed Without Charge
                                                        )  How Units May Be Purchased By The Sponsor
18.  (a)  Receipt and disposition of income             )  Summary of Portfolios
                                                        )  When Are Distributions Made To Unitholders?
                                                        )  How Detailed Are Reports To Unitholders?
     (b)  Reinvestment of distributions                 )  Accumulation Plan
     (c)  Reserves or special funds                     )  Summary of Portfolios
                                                        )  When Are Distributions Made To Unitholders?
     (d)  Schedule of distributions                     )  *
19.  Records, accounts and reports                      )  When Are Distributions Made To Unitholders?
                                                        )  How Detailed Are Reports To Unitholders?
20.  Certain miscellaneous provisions of                )  Information About the Trustee
     Trust Agreement                                    )
                                                        )  Information About the Sponsor
                                                        )  Other Information
21.  Loans to security holders                          )  *
22.  Limitations on liability                           )  Summary of Portfolios
                                                        )  Composition of Trusts
                                                        )  Information About The Trustee
23.  Bond arrangements                                  )  *
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<C>  <S>  <C>                                          <C> <C>
24.  Other material provisions of Trust Agreement.      )  *
 
          III. ORGANIZATION, PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATED PERSONS OF DEPOSITOR
25.  Organization of Depositor                          )  Information About the Sponsor
26.  Fees received by Depositor                         )  *
27.  Business of Depositor                              )  Information About the Sponsor
28.  Certain information as to officials                )  *
     and affiliated persons of Depositor                )
29.  Voting Securities of Depositor                     )  Information About the Sponsor
30.  Persons controlling Depositor                      )
31.  Payments by Depositor for certain                  )
     services rendered to trust                         )
32.  Payments by Depositor for certain                  )  *
     other services rendered to trust                   )
33.  Remuneration of employees of Depositor             )
     for certain services rendered to trust             )
34.  Remuneration of other persons for                  )
     certain services rendered to trust                 )
 
          IV. DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
35.  Distribution of trust's securities by states       )  *
36.  Suspension of sales of trust's securities          )
37.  Revocation of authority to distribute              )
38.  (a)  Method of distribution                        )
     (b)  Underwriting agreements                       )  How Units of The Trusts Are
                                                        )  Distributed To The Public
     (c)  Selling agreement                             )
39.  (a)  Organization of principal underwriter         )  Information About The Sponsor
     (b)  NASD membership of principal underwriter      )
40.  Certain fees received by principal underwriter     )  *
41.  (a)  Business of principal underwriter             )
     (b)  Branch offices of principal underwriter       )  *
     (c)  Salesmen of principal underwriter             )
42.  Ownership of trust's securities by                 )  *
     certain persons                                    )
43.  Certain brokerage commissions received             )  *
     by principal underwriter                           )
44.  (a)  Method of valuation                           )  Part A -- Essential Information
                                                        )  How Is The Public Offering Price Determined?
                                                        )  How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                                        )  Determined At The Date of Deposit?
                                                        )  What Are Normal Trust Operating Expenses?
     (b)  Schedule as to offering price                 )  *
     (c)  Variation in offering price to                )  How Is the Public Offering Price
          certain persons                               )  Determined?
                                                        )  What Is Accrued Interest?
                                                        )  How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                                        )  Determined At The Date of Deposit?
45.  Suspension of redemption rights                    )  *
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<C>  <S>  <C>                                          <C> <C>
46.  (a)  Redemption valuation                          )  Unit Value and Evaluation
                                                        )  How Units May Be Redeemed Without Charge
                                                        )  How Units May Be Purchased By The Sponsor
     (b)  Schedule as to redemption price               )  *
47.  Maintenance of position in underlying              )  How Is the Public Offering Price
     securities                                         )  Determined?
                                                        )  How Units May Be Purchased By The Sponsor
 
          V. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
48.  Organization and regulation of Trustee             )  Information About The Trustee
49.  Fees and expenses of Trustee                       )  Part A -- Essential Information
                                                        )  What Are Normal Trust Operating Expenses?
50.  Trustee's lien                                     )  What Are Normal Trust Operating Expenses?
                                                        )  When Are Distributions Made To Unitholders?
 
          VI. INFORMATION CONCERNING INSURANCE OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
51.  Insurance of holders of trust's securities         )  *
 
          VII. POLICY OF REGISTRANT
52.  (a)  Provisions of trust agreement with            )  What Are Normal Trust Operating
          respect to selection or elimination           )  Expenses?
          of underlying securities                      )
                                                        )  How Units May Be Redeemed Without Charge
                                                        )  How Bonds May Be Removed From The Trusts
     (b)  Transactions involving elimination            )  *
          of underlying securities                      )
     (c)  Policy regarding substitution or              )  Summary of Portfolios
          elimination of underlying securities          )
                                                        )  Composition of Trusts
                                                        )  How Bonds May Be Removed From The Trusts
     (d)  Fundamental policy not otherwise covered      )  *
53.  Tax status of trust                                )  What Is The Tax Status Of Unitholders?
 
          VIII. FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION
54.  Trust's securities during last ten years           )  *
55.                                                     )
56.  Certain information regarding                      )  *
     periodic payment certificate                       )
57.                                                     )
58.                                                     )
</TABLE>
 
- ---------
 
* Inapplicable, omitted, answer negative or not required.
<PAGE>
   
                                 JULY 11, 1996
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
    
 
                                           A
   
NUVEEN                NUVEEN INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 86
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS SERIES 875)
    
 
                                               CUSIP NUMBERS:
 
   
                                               Monthly:               67093J 311
                                               Quarterly:             67093J 329
                                               Semi-Annually:         67093J 337
    
 
   
              PROSPECTUS--PART A (SPECIFIC TERMS) -- JULY 11, 1996
 THIS PART A OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE
                                   PART B OF
  THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS PROSPECTUS, TO WHICH SUCH REFERENCE HEREIN
                           APPLIES. ANY REFERENCE TO
   "NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS" IN PART B SHALL BE AMENDED TO READ "NUVEEN
                             TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS."
     BOTH PARTS OF THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
    
 
   
    Intermediate  Insured  Trust 86  (the "Trust")  consists  of a  portfolio of
interest-bearing obligations issued by  or on behalf  of States, certain  United
States  Territories or authorities and  political subdivisions thereof which, in
the opinion  of recognized  bond  counsel to  the issuing  authorities,  provide
income which is exempt from Federal income tax, to the extent indicated in "WHAT
IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
    
 
    The  objectives of the Trust  are income exempt from  Federal income tax and
conservation of  capital. The  objectives  are, of  course, dependent  upon  the
continuing  ability  of  the issuers,  obligors  and/or insurers  to  meet their
respective obligations.
 
   
    The Portfolio of  the Trust consists  of 11 obligations  issued by  entities
located  in 10 states. The Bonds in  the Trust are either general obligations of
the governmental entity issuing them and are backed by the taxing power  thereof
or  are  payable as  to principal  and interest  from the  income of  a specific
project or authority and are not supported by the issuer's power to levy  taxes.
The sources of payment for the Bonds are divided as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     NUMBER OF                                              PORTFOLIO
      ISSUES                PURPOSE OF ISSUE                PERCENTAGE
  ---------------  ----------------------------------------------------
  <C>              <S>                                     <C>
         5         General Obligations                            50   %
         2         College and University Revenue                 16
         1         Electrical System Revenue                      10
         1         Municipal Lease Revenue                        10
         1         Water and/or Sewer Revenue                     10
         1         Dedicated-Tax Supported Revenue                 4
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    Approximately  7.0% of  the aggregate principal  amount of the  Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 4.2% of the aggregate offering price of  the
Bonds)  are original issue discount obligations. Certain of these original issue
discount obligations, amounting to  7.0% of the  aggregate principal amount  and
4.2%  of  the aggregate  offering price  of the  Bonds in  the Trust,  are "zero
coupon" bonds. See "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus for a  discussion
of  the  characteristics  of  such  obligations  and  of  the  risks  associated
therewith.
    
 
    All of the Bonds in the Trust are covered by policies of insurance  obtained
from  the  MBIA  Insurance  Corporation guaranteeing  payment  of  principal and
interest when due. As a  result of such insurance, the  Bonds in the Trust  have
received  a rating of "Aaa" by  Moody's and both the Bonds  in the Trust and the
Units of the Trust have received a rating of "AAA" by Standard & Poor's.
 
   
    Twenty-three percent of the principal amount of Bonds in the Trust  consists
of  issues of entities located in the  State of Illinois; such concentration may
involve more risk than if such Bonds  were issued by issuers located in  several
states.
    
 
    For  a discussion of the  risks associated with investments  in the bonds of
various issuers, see "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    Information contained  herein  is  subject to  completion  or  amendment.  A
registration  statement relating  to these  securities has  been filed  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission. These securities  may not be  sold nor  may
offers  to buy be accepted prior to  the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This  Prospectus  shall  not  constitute an  offer  to  sell  or  the
solicitation  of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation or sale would be unlawful  prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any State.
 
- ----------
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE  SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                                     1 of 6
<PAGE>
   
                             ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
               REGARDING THE NUVEEN INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 86
        ON THE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 10, 1996
    
         Sponsor and Evaluator.......... John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
         Trustee........................ The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                ------------------------------------------------
 
The income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been  calculated
for   Unitholders  receiving  monthly,  quarterly  or  semi-annual  distribution
options.
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $     5,000,000
Number of Units.....................................           50,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....         1/50,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $     4,847,423
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $         96.95
    Plus Sales Charge 3.9% (4.058% of the Aggregate
     Offering Price of the Bonds per Unit)..........  $          3.93
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $        100.88
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $         96.58
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $         96.95
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $          4.30
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $          3.93
Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust(2)...........        9.9 years
 
<CAPTION>
                                                          MONTHLY
                                                      SEMI-ANNUAL ---
                                                                QUARTERLY
                                                                --
                                                                ------------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>   <C>
  Calculation of Estimated Net Annual
    Interest Income Per Unit
      Annual Interest Income(3)............         $4.9095         $4.9095        $4.9095
      Less Estimated Annual Expense........          $.2311          $.1991         $.1801
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
      Estimated Net Annual Interest
        Income(4)..........................         $4.6784         $4.7104        $4.7294
  Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit...........         $.01299         $.01308        $.01313
  ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN(5)..............            4.64%           4.67%          4.69 %
  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN(5)............            4.60%           4.64%          4.66 %
  Trustee's Annual Fees(6).................         $1.5128         $1.1928        $1.0028
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>
Date of Deposit............................................................................................July 11, 1996
Settlement Date............................................................................................July 16, 1996
Mandatory Termination Date..........................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Minimum Value of Each Trust.........................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee...............................................$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses(7).............................................................$.02960 per Unit
- ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
The evaluation time for purpose  of sale, purchase or  redemption of Units is  4
p.m.  Eastern time or as of  any earlier closing time on  a day on which the New
York Stock Exchange is scheduled in advance to close at such earlier time.  (See
"HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
   
(1) Units  are offered at  the Public Offering Price  plus accrued interest from
    the preceding Record  Date to,  but not  including, the  date of  settlement
    (normally  three business days  after purchase). The Date  of Deposit of the
    Fund has  been  designated  as  the  First Record  Date  for  all  plans  of
    distribution  of the Trust and, accordingly, for Units purchased on the Date
    of Deposit, $.06 of accrued interest to the Settlement Date will be added to
    the Public Offering  Price. (See "WHAT  IS ACCRUED INTEREST?"  in Part B  of
    this Prospectus.)
    
(2) The  Average Maturity  of Bonds  in the Trust  is calculated  based upon the
    stated maturities of the Bonds in the  Trust (or, with respect to Bonds  for
    which funds or securities have been placed in escrow to redeem such Bonds on
    a  stated call  date, based  upon such call  date). The  Average Maturity of
    Bonds in the  Trust may  increase or  decrease from  time to  time as  Bonds
    mature or are called or sold.
(3) Assumes  delivery of  all Bonds. (See  "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS" appearing in
    Part B of this  Prospectus.) Interest income does  not include accretion  of
    original  issue  discount on  "zero coupon"  Bonds, Stripped  Obligations or
    other original issue discount Bonds. (See  "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of  this
    Prospectus.)
(4) The  amount and  timing of interest  distributions from the  Trust under the
    various plans of distribution  are set forth below.  It is anticipated  that
    the  amount of interest to  be distributed per Unit  in each year under each
    plan of distribution will initially be substantially equal to the  Estimated
    Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan. The amount of interest to
    be  distributed  annually  per  Unit, will  generally  change  as  Bonds are
    redeemed, mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
(5) Estimated Long  Term Return  for the  Trust represents  the average  of  the
    yields  to  maturity  (or  call)  of  the  Bonds  in  the  Trust's portfolio
    calculated in  accordance  with  accepted bond  practices  and  adjusted  to
    reflect  a compounding factor, expenses and sales charges. Estimated Current
    Return is computed by  dividing the Net Annual  Interest Income per Unit  by
    the  Public Offering  Price, and in  contrast to Estimated  Long Term Return
    does not reflect the  amortization of premium or  accretion of discount,  if
    any.  For  more information  see "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED  LONG TERM  RETURN AND
    ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
(6) Each Trustee annual  fee is per  $1,000 principal amount  of the  underlying
    Bonds  in  the  Trust  for  that portion  of  the  Trust  that  represents a
    particular plan of distribution.
(7) The Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of  its
    organizational   costs  (including  costs   of  preparing  the  registration
    statements, the  trust indenture  and other  closing documents,  registering
    Units  with the Securities  and Exchange Commission  and states, the initial
    audit of the Trust portfolio, legal  fees and the initial fees and  expenses
    of  the Trustee but not  including the expenses incurred  in the printing of
    preliminary and final prospectuses, and expenses incurred in the preparation
    and printing  of brochures  and other  advertising materials  and any  other
    selling  expenses)  as  is  common for  mutual  funds.  Total organizational
    expenses will be  amortized over a  five year period.  See "WHAT ARE  NORMAL
    TRUST  OPERATING EXPENSES?" in  Part B of this  Prospectus and "Statement of
    Condition." Historically, the sponsors of  unit investment trusts have  paid
    all the costs of establishing such trusts.
 
                                     2 of 6
<PAGE>
                             INTEREST DISTRIBUTION
 
    Details  of interest distributions  per Unit of the  Trust under the various
plans appear in  the following table  based upon estimated  Net Annual  Interest
Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          NORMAL
                                                                                                      DISTRIBUTIONS
                                                  1996                             1997                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .2598(1)                                                  $  4.6784
                                                          --------  $.3897 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .2598(1)   $  1.1772(2)   $  1.1772      $  1.1772        $  4.7104
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .2598(1)   $  1.1817(3)                  $  2.3634        $  4.7294
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
 * Record  Dates for  semi-annual distributions  are May  1 and  November 1; for
   quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.
   Record Dates  for monthly  distributions are  the first  day of  each  month.
   Distribution  Dates under each distribution plan are the fifteenth day of the
   month  in  which  the  respective   Record  Date  occurred.  For   additional
   information  see "WHEN ARE  DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?"  in Part B of
   this Prospectus.
 
(1) The first distribution will  be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of  the
    distribution  plan selected.  Such distribution may  be more or  less than a
    regular monthly distribution.
 
(2) Regular 3-month distribution.
 
   
(3) The second distribution under the semi-annual distribution plan represents a
    3-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual  distributions will be  regular
    6-month distributions.
    
 
                                   TAX STATUS
 
    For  a discussion  of the tax  status of  income earned on  Trust Units, see
"WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
                                     3 of 6
<PAGE>
   
                      NUVEEN INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 86
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST SERIES 875)
         SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's        Price
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   350,000      North Slope Borough, Alaska, General Obligation  No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa     $       202,787
                   Bonds, Series 1995A, 0.00% Due 6/30/06.
                   (Original issue discount bonds delivered on
                   or about August 22, 1995 at a price of
                   54.043% of principal amount.)
    200,000      San Diego County Regional Transportation         No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             200,738
                   Commission (California), Second Senior Sales
                   Tax Revenue Bonds, 1993 Series A Refunding,
                   5.25% Due 4/1/06.
    400,000      State of Illinois, General Obligation Bonds,     No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             396,304
                   Series of December 1995, 5.125% Due 12/1/05.
    750,000      Public Building Commission of Chicago            No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             744,030
                   (Illinois), Building Revenue Bonds, Series A
                   of 1993 (Board of Education of the City of
                   Chicago), 5.25% Due 12/1/06. (General
                   Obligation Bonds.)
    300,000      The Trustees of Purdue University (Indiana),     No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             302,289
                   Purdue University Student Fee Bonds, Series
                   M, 5.45% Due 7/1/06. (When issued.)
    500,000      Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric       No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             492,320
                   Company, Power Supply System Revenue Bonds,
                   1993 Series A, 5.10% Due 7/1/06.
    500,000      City of Detroit, Michigan, Sewage Disposal          2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             488,485
                   System Revenue Bonds, Series 1995-A, 5.00%
                   Due 7/1/06.
    500,000      City of Cleveland, Ohio, Various Purpose         No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             500,000
                   General Obligation Bonds, Series 1993, 5.20%
                   Due 9/1/06.
    500,000      Tulsa (Oklahoma), Industrial Authority, Revenue  No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             509,000
                   and Refunding Bonds (The University of
                   Tulsa), Series 1996A, 5.50% Due 10/1/05.
    500,000      Industrial Development Authority of Brunswick    No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             503,815
                   County, Virginia, Correctional Facility Lease
                   Revenue Bonds, Series 1996, 5.45% Due 7/1/06.
    500,000      State of Washington, Various Purpose General     No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             507,655
                   Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series R-96B,
                   5.50% Due 7/1/06.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 5,000,000                                                                                                 $     4,847,423
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
    (1) The Sponsor's contracts to purchase  Bonds were entered into during  the
period from July 8, 1996 to July 10, 1996. Other information regarding the Bonds
in the Trust on the Date of Deposit is as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        ANNUAL
                                                           PROFIT      INTEREST
                                              COST TO     (OR LOSS)    INCOME TO    BID PRICE
                   TRUST                      SPONSOR    TO SPONSOR      TRUST      OF BONDS
  ----------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  <S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
  INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 86...........  $ 4,813,848  $   33,575   $  245,475   $ 4,829,110
</TABLE>
    
 
   
In  addition,  the difference  between the  Trustee's determination  of Offering
Price and Bid Price (as a percentage of principal amount) is .37%. Neither  cost
to  Sponsor nor  profit (or  loss) to  Sponsor reflects  underwriting profits or
losses received  or  incurred  by  the  Sponsor  through  its  participation  in
underwriting  syndicates. The  Sponsor did  not participate  as either  the sole
underwriter or as a manager or member of a syndicate that acted as the  original
underwriter of any of the Bonds.
    
 
    (2)  The Bonds are first subject to optional redemption in the years, and at
the prices,  shown. Unless  otherwise  indicated, the  Bonds, except  for  Bonds
issued  at a  substantial original issue  discount, are  redeemable at declining
prices (but not below  par value) in subsequent  years. Original issue  discount
bonds,  including zero coupon bonds, are generally redeemable at prices based on
the issue  price  plus  the  amount  of  original  issue  discount  accreted  to
redemption  plus, if applicable, some premium,  the amount of which will decline
in subsequent years. The  Bonds may also be  subject to sinking fund  redemption
without  premium  prior to  the dates  shown.  Certain Bonds  may be  subject to
redemption without  premium prior  to  the date  shown  pursuant to  special  or
mandatory  call provisions specified in the  instruments setting forth the terms
and provisions of  such Bonds.  See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS", "WHAT  IS THE  TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" and "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    (3)  All the  Bonds in the  Insured Trusts,  as insured by  the Insurer, are
rated AAA by Standard  & Poor's and  Aaa by Moody's. In  addition, Units of  the
Trust  are rated "AAA" by  Standard & Poor's as a  result of such insurance. The
"AAA" rating on the Units will be in effect for a period of thirteen months from
the Date  of Deposit  and will,  unless renewed,  terminate at  the end  of  the
period.  The insurance obtained by the  Trust guarantees the payment of interest
and principal on  the Bonds when  due but  does not cover  certain market  risks
associated  with fixed income securities  such as accelerated payments, premiums
payable on mandatory redemptions or interest  rate risks. (See "WHY AND HOW  ARE
THE BONDS INSURED?" in Part B of this Prospectus and "Description of Ratings" in
the Information Supplement.)
 
                                     4 of 6
<PAGE>
                             Statement of Condition
 
   
                      NUVEEN INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 86
    
 
   
                    (Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875)
    
 
   
                              AS OF JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
    TRUST PROPERTY
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-Exempt Bonds,
  backed by an irrevocable letter of
  credit(1)(2)....................................  $    4,847,423
Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on underlying
  Bonds(1)........................................          32,267
Organizational costs(3)...........................           7,400
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    4,887,090
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
   LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITIES:
    Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on
     underlying Bonds(4)..........................  $       32,267
    Accrued organizational costs(3)...............           7,400
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $       39,667
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided interest
     outstanding (50,000)
      Cost to investors(5)........................  $    5,044,131
        Less: Gross underwriting commission(6)....        (196,708)
                                                    --------------
    Net amount applicable to investors............  $    4,847,423
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    4,887,090
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
- ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
(1) Represented  by contracts to  purchase Tax-Exempt Bonds  which include "when
    issued" or  "regular  way" or  "delayed  delivery" contracts  for  which  an
    irrevocable  letter of  credit issued  by a  major commercial  bank has been
    deposited with the Trustee on the Date of Deposit. The amount of such letter
    of credit  and any  cash  deposited exceeds  the  amount necessary  for  the
    purchase  of the Bonds plus accrued interest  to the Date of Deposit. At the
    Date of Deposit, Bonds  may have been delivered  to the Sponsor pursuant  to
    certain  of these contracts; the Sponsor has  assigned to the Trustee all of
    its rights, title and interest in and to such Bonds.
 
(2) Aggregate value (at offering prices) as of the Date of Deposit of the  Bonds
    listed  under "Schedule of Investments" herein,  and their aggregate cost to
    the Trust are the  same. Such offering prices  were determined by Kenny  S&P
    Evaluation  Services, a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc., as of the close of
    business on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See "HOW WAS THE
    PRICE OF THE BONDS  DETERMINED AT THE  DATE OF DEPOSIT?" in  Part B of  this
    Prospectus.)  Insurance coverage providing for the timely payment, when due,
    of all principal of and interest on  the Bonds in an Insured Trust has  been
    obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds. Such insurance does
    not  guarantee the market value of the Bonds or the value of the Units. Both
    the bid and the offering prices of the underlying Bonds and of the Units may
    include value attributable to such policies of insurance.
 
(3) The Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of  its
    estimated  organizational costs  which will  be deferred  and amortized over
    five years from the Date of Deposit.
 
(4) Representing, as set forth in "WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?" in Part B of  this
    Prospectus,  advancement by  the Trustee of  an amount equal  to the accrued
    Bond interest as of the Date of Deposit.
 
(5) Aggregate Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed  as
    set  forth under "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of
    this Prospectus.
 
(6) The gross underwriting commission of 3.90% of the Public Offering Price  has
    been  calculated on the assumption that the  Units sold are not subject to a
    reduction of sales  charge for  quantity purchases.  In single  transactions
    involving  500 Units or more, the sales  charge is reduced. (See "HOW IS THE
    PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
                                     5 of 6
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF JOHN  NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED AND UNITHOLDERS  OF
INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 86:
    
 
   
    We  have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the schedule of
investments at  date of  deposit (included  in  Part A  of this  Prospectus)  of
Intermediate  Insured Trust 86 (contained in  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series
875), as of July 11, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility  of
the  Sponsor. Our  responsibility is  to express  an opinion  on these financial
statements based on our audit.
    
 
    We conducted  our  audit  in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of the irrevocable letter of credit arrangement for the purchase of
securities,   described  in  Note   (1)  to  the   statement  of  condition,  by
correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used  and significant  estimates  made by  the  Sponsor, as  well  as
evaluating  the overall  financial statement  presentation. We  believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
    In our opinion, the statement of  condition and the schedule of  investments
at  date of deposit referred to above  present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position of Intermediate Insured Trust 86 as of July 11, 1996,  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
    
 
                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
Chicago, Illinois,
July 11, 1996.
    
 
                                     6 of 6
<PAGE>
   
                                 JULY 11, 1996
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
    
                                           A
   
NUVEEN                  NUVEEN COLORADO INSURED TRUST 64
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS SERIES 875)
    
                                               CUSIP NUMBERS:
   
                                               Monthly:               6706E9 432
                                               Quarterly:             6706E9 440
                                               Semi-Annually:         6706E9 457
    
   
              PROSPECTUS--PART A (SPECIFIC TERMS) -- JULY 11, 1996
 THIS PART A OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE
                                   PART B OF
  THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS PROSPECTUS, TO WHICH SUCH REFERENCE HEREIN
                           APPLIES. ANY REFERENCE TO
   "NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS" IN PART B SHALL BE AMENDED TO READ "NUVEEN
                             TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS."
     BOTH PARTS OF THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
    
 
   
    Colorado  Insured  Trust  64  (the  "Trust")  consists  of  a  portfolio  of
interest-bearing obligations issued by  or on behalf of  the State of  Colorado,
certain  United  States Territories  or  authorities and  political subdivisions
thereof which,  in  the  opinion  of recognized  bond  counsel  to  the  issuing
authorities, provide income which is exempt from Federal income tax and Colorado
income tax, to the extent indicated below.
    
    The  objectives of the Trust are income exempt from Federal and state income
taxes, and conservation  of capital.  The objectives are,  of course,  dependent
upon  the continuing  ability of the  issuers, obligors and/or  insurers to meet
their respective obligations.
   
    The Portfolio of  the Trust  consists of  6 obligations  issued by  entities
located  in  Colorado and  one obligation  issued  by an  entity located  in the
Territory of Puerto Rico. The Bonds in the Trust are either general  obligations
of  the governmental  entity issuing  them and  are backed  by the  taxing power
thereof or  are payable  as  to principal  and interest  from  the income  of  a
specific  project or authority  and are not  supported by the  issuer's power to
levy taxes. The sources of payment for the Bonds are divided as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     NUMBER OF                                              PORTFOLIO
      ISSUES                PURPOSE OF ISSUE                PERCENTAGE
  ---------------  ----------------------------------------------------
  <C>              <S>                                     <C>
         2         General Obligations                            29   %
         2         Health Care Facility Revenue                   29
         1         College and University Revenue                 14
         1         Transportation Facility Revenue                14
         1         Combination Utility Revenue                    14
</TABLE>
    
 
    All of the Bonds in the Trust are covered by policies of insurance  obtained
from  the  MBIA  Insurance  Corporation guaranteeing  payment  of  principal and
interest when due. As a  result of such insurance, the  Bonds in the Trust  have
received  a rating of "Aaa" by  Moody's and both the Bonds  in the Trust and the
Units of the Trust have received a rating of "AAA" by Standard & Poor's.
   
    The Trust is considered to be concentrated in Bonds of Health Care  Facility
Revenue  Issuers whose revenues are subject to certain risks including increased
governmental regulation, fluctuating occupancy levels and increased competition.
For a  discussion of  the risks  associated  with investments  in the  bonds  of
various issuers, see "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
    
   
                             ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
                 REGARDING THE NUVEEN COLORADO INSURED TRUST 64
        ON THE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 10, 1996
    
         Sponsor and Evaluator.......... John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
         Trustee........................ The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                ------------------------------------------------
 
The  income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been calculated
for  Unitholders  receiving  monthly,  quarterly  or  semi-annual   distribution
options.
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $     3,500,000
Number of Units.....................................           35,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....         1/35,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $     3,285,085
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $         93.86
    Plus Sales Charge 4.9% (5.152% of the Aggregate
     Offering Price of the Bonds per Unit)..........  $          4.84
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $         98.70
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $         93.40
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $         93.86
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $          5.30
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $          4.84
Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust(2)...........       24.5 years
</TABLE>
    
 
- ----------
 
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE  SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
Information  contained  herein  is  subject   to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement relating  to these  securities has  been filed  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission. These securities  may not be  sold nor  may
offers  to buy be accepted prior to  the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This  Prospectus  shall  not  constitute an  offer  to  sell  or  the
solicitation  of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation or sale would be unlawful  prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any State.
 
                                     1 of 7
<PAGE>
                         ESSENTIAL INFORMATION (CONT.)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  MONTHLY        QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
  <S>                                           <C>             <C>             <C>
  Calculation of Estimated Net Annual
    Interest Income Per Unit
      Annual Interest Income(3)............         $5.4500         $5.4500        $5.4500
      Less Estimated Annual Expense........          $.2397          $.2077         $.1887
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
      Estimated Net Annual Interest
        Income(4)..........................         $5.2103         $5.2423        $5.2613
  Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit...........         $.01447         $.01456        $.01461
  ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN(5)..............            5.28%           5.31%          5.33 %
  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN(5)............            5.38%           5.41%          5.42 %
  Trustee's Annual Fees(6).................         $1.5643         $1.2443        $1.0543
Date of Deposit......................................................................................July 11, 1996
Settlement Date......................................................................................July 16, 1996
Mandatory Termination Date....................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Minimum Value of Each Trust...................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.........................................$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses(7).......................................................$.02629 per Unit
- ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
The  evaluation time for purpose  of sale, purchase or  redemption of Units is 4
p.m. Eastern time or as of  any earlier closing time on  a day on which the  New
York  Stock Exchange is scheduled in advance to close at such earlier time. (See
"HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
   
(1) Units are offered at  the Public Offering Price  plus accrued interest  from
    the  preceding Record  Date to,  but not  including, the  date of settlement
    (normally three business days  after purchase). The Date  of Deposit of  the
    Fund  has  been  designated  as  the First  Record  Date  for  all  plans of
    distribution of the Trust and, accordingly, for Units purchased on the  Date
    of Deposit, $.07 of accrued interest to the Settlement Date will be added to
    the  Public Offering Price.  (See "WHAT IS  ACCRUED INTEREST?" in  Part B of
    this Prospectus.)
    
 
(2) The Average Maturity  of Bonds  in the Trust  is calculated  based upon  the
    stated  maturities of the Bonds in the  Trust (or, with respect to Bonds for
    which funds or securities have been placed in escrow to redeem such Bonds on
    a stated call  date, based  upon such call  date). The  Average Maturity  of
    Bonds  in the  Trust may  increase or  decrease from  time to  time as Bonds
    mature or are called or sold.
 
(3) Assumes delivery of  all Bonds.  (See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS" appearing  in
    Part  B of this  Prospectus.) Interest income does  not include accretion of
    original issue  discount on  "zero coupon"  Bonds, Stripped  Obligations  or
    other  original issue discount Bonds. (See "RISK  FACTORS" in Part B of this
    Prospectus.)
 
(4) The amount and  timing of interest  distributions from the  Trust under  the
    various  plans of distribution  are set forth below.  It is anticipated that
    the amount of interest to  be distributed per Unit  in each year under  each
    plan  of distribution will initially be substantially equal to the Estimated
    Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan. The amount of interest to
    be distributed  annually  per  Unit,  will generally  change  as  Bonds  are
    redeemed, mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
(5) Estimated  Long  Term Return  for the  Trust represents  the average  of the
    yields to  maturity  (or  call)  of  the  Bonds  in  the  Trust's  portfolio
    calculated  in  accordance  with  accepted bond  practices  and  adjusted to
    reflect a compounding factor, expenses and sales charges. Estimated  Current
    Return  is computed by dividing  the Net Annual Interest  Income per Unit by
    the Public Offering  Price, and in  contrast to Estimated  Long Term  Return
    does  not reflect the  amortization of premium or  accretion of discount, if
    any. For  more information  see "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED  LONG TERM  RETURN  AND
    ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
(6) Each  Trustee annual  fee is per  $1,000 principal amount  of the underlying
    Bonds in  the  Trust  for  that  portion of  the  Trust  that  represents  a
    particular plan of distribution.
 
(7) The  Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of its
    organizational  costs  (including  costs   of  preparing  the   registration
    statements,  the trust  indenture and  other closing  documents, registering
    Units with the Securities  and Exchange Commission  and states, the  initial
    audit  of the Trust portfolio, legal fees  and the initial fees and expenses
    of the Trustee but  not including the expenses  incurred in the printing  of
    preliminary and final prospectuses, and expenses incurred in the preparation
    and  printing of  brochures and  other advertising  materials and  any other
    selling expenses)  as  is  common for  mutual  funds.  Total  organizational
    expenses  will be amortized  over a five  year period. See  "WHAT ARE NORMAL
    TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?" in  Part B of this  Prospectus and "Statement  of
    Condition."  Historically, the sponsors of  unit investment trusts have paid
    all the costs of establishing such trusts.
 
                                     2 of 7
<PAGE>
                             INTEREST DISTRIBUTION
 
    Details of interest distributions  per Unit of the  Trust under the  various
plans  appear in  the following table  based upon estimated  Net Annual Interest
Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          NORMAL
                                                                                                      DISTRIBUTIONS
                                                  1996                             1997                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .2894(1)                                                  $  5.2103
                                                          --------  $.4341 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .2894(1)   $  1.3104(2)   $  1.3104      $  1.3104        $  5.2423
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .2894(1)   $  1.3149(3)                  $  2.6298        $  5.2613
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
 * Record Dates for  semi-annual distributions  are May  1 and  November 1;  for
   quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.
   Record  Dates  for monthly  distributions are  the first  day of  each month.
   Distribution Dates under each distribution plan are the fifteenth day of  the
   month   in  which  the  respective   Record  Date  occurred.  For  additional
   information see "WHEN ARE  DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?"  in Part B  of
   this Prospectus.
 
(1) The  first distribution will  be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of the
    distribution plan selected.  Such distribution may  be more or  less than  a
    regular monthly distribution.
 
(2) Regular 3-month distribution.
 
   
(3) The second distribution under the semi-annual distribution plan represents a
    3-month  distribution; subsequent semi-annual  distributions will be regular
    6-month distributions.
    
 
                             COLORADO RISK FACTORS
 
    The financial condition  of the  State of  Colorado is  affected by  various
national,   economic,   social  and   environmental  policies   and  conditions.
Additionally, Constitutional and statutory limitations imposed on the State  and
its  local governments concerning taxes, bond indebtedness and other matters may
constrain the revenue-generating capacity of the State and its local governments
and, therefore,  the  ability of  the  issuers of  the  Bonds to  satisfy  their
obligations.   Historically,  the  State  has  experienced  significant  revenue
shortfalls. A recently passed,  but somewhat ambiguous Constitutional  Amendment
requires  voter approval prior to tax increases, creation of debt, or until levy
or valuation for assessment ratio increases. The Amendment also limits increases
in government spending and property tax revenues to specified percentages.
 
    The economic vitality of the State  and its various regions and,  therefore,
the  ability of the  State and its  local governments to  satisfy the Bonds, are
affected by numerous factors. The economy of the State continues to be dependent
on tourism and its position  as a transportation hub.  These sectors tend to  be
cyclical.
 
    The State is a party to numerous lawsuits in which an adverse final decision
could materially affect the State's governmental operations and consequently its
ability to pay debt service on its obligations.
 
    Further  information concerning Colorado  risk factors may  be obtained upon
written or telephonic request to the Trustee as described in "OTHER  INFORMATION
- -- Supplemental Information" appearing in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
                                   TAX STATUS
 
    For  a discussion of the Federal tax status of income earned on Trust Units,
see "WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    In the opinion of Sherman &  Howard L.L.C., special Colorado counsel to  the
Trust, under existing law:
 
        A  Trust will consist of  obligations which were issued  by the State of
    Colorado  or  its  political  subdivisions  or  by  the  United  States   or
    possessions  of the United States including  Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands
    and Guam ("Colorado Bonds").
 
        Because Colorado income  tax law is  based upon the  Federal law and  in
    light  of the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, the Trust is not an association
    taxable as a corporation for purposes of Colorado income taxation.
 
        With respect  to  Colorado  Unitholders, in  view  of  the  relationship
    between  Federal  and  Colorado  tax computations  described  above  and the
    opinion of Chapman and Cutler referred to above:
 
        Each Colorado Unitholder will be treated as owning a share of each asset
    of the Trust for  Colorado income tax purposes,  in the proportion that  the
    number  of Units  of such  Trust held by  him bears  to the  total number of
    outstanding Units of the Trust, and  the income of the Trust will  therefore
    be  treated as the income of each  Colorado Unitholder under Colorado law in
    the proportion described.
 
                                     3 of 7
<PAGE>
        Interest on Colorado Bonds that would not be subject to Colorado  income
    tax  or Colorado  alternative minimum tax  when paid directly  to a Colorado
    Unitholder will not be subject to Colorado income tax or alternative minimum
    tax when received by  the Trust and attributed  to such Colorado  Unitholder
    and when distributed to such Colorado Unitholder.
 
        Any  proceeds paid under an insurance policy issued to the issuer of the
    Colorado Bonds involved, to the Depositor  prior to deposit of the  Colorado
    Bonds  in  the Trust,  or to  the Trust,  which proceeds  represent maturing
    interest on defaulted Colorado Bonds and which proceeds would not be subject
    to Colorado income tax  or alternative minimum tax  when paid directly to  a
    Colorado  Unitholder will not be subject  to Colorado income and alternative
    minimum tax  when received  by the  Trust and  attributed to  such  Colorado
    Unitholder and when distributed to such Colorado Unitholder.
 
        Each  Colorado Unitholder will realize gain  or loss taxable in Colorado
    when the  Trust disposes  of a  Colorado Bond  (whether by  sale,  exchange,
    redemption  or payment at maturity) or  when the Colorado Unitholder redeems
    or sells Units at a  price that differs from  original cost as adjusted  for
    amortization  of  bond  discount  or  premium  and  other  basis adjustments
    (including any basis reduction  that may be required  to reflect a  Colorado
    Unitholder's  share of interest,  if any, accruing  on Colorado Bonds during
    the interval between the Colorado Unitholder's settlement date and the  date
    such Colorado Bonds are delivered to the Trust, if later).
 
        Tax cost reduction requirements relating to amortization of bond premium
    may, under some circumstances, result in Colorado Unitholders realizing gain
    taxable  in Colorado  when their  Units are sold  or redeemed  for an amount
    equal to or less than their original cost.
 
        If  interest  on  indebtedness  incurred  or  continued  by  a  Colorado
    Unitholder  to purchase  Units in  the Trust  is not  deductible for Federal
    income tax  purposes, it  will not  be deductible  for Colorado  income  tax
    purposes.
 
                                     4 of 7
<PAGE>
   
                        NUVEEN COLORADO INSURED TRUST 64
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST SERIES 875)
         SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's        Price
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Hospital      2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       491,610
                   Revenue Improvement and Refunding Bonds
                   (Boulder Community Hospital Project), Series
                   1994B, 5.875% Due 10/1/23.
    500,000      Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Hospital      2006 at 101        AAA         Aaa             447,920
                   Revenue Bonds (The Children's Hospital
                   Association Project), Series 1996, 5.25% Due
                   10/1/26.
    500,000      State of Colorado, Department of Higher             2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             491,340
                   Education, by State Board for Community
                   Colleges and Occupational Education,
                   Systemwide Revenue Bonds (Front Range
                   Community College-Westminister Campus
                   Project), Series 1995, 5.70% Due 11/1/15.
    500,000      City of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Utilities       2004 at 100        AAA         Aaa             451,180
                   System Improvement and Refunding Revenue
                   Bonds, Series 1994A, 5.125% Due 11/15/19.
    500,000      City and County of Denver, Colorado, Airport        2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             474,525
                   System Revenue Bonds, Series 1995A, 5.60% Due
                   11/15/20.
    500,000      Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1,              2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             466,285
                   Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle Counties,
                   Colorado, General Obligation Refunding Bonds,
                   Series 1995, 5.20% Due 12/15/14.
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2006 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             462,225
                   Bonds of 1996 (General Obligation Bonds.),
                   5.40% Due 7/1/25.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,285,085
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
    (1)  The Sponsor's contracts to purchase  Bonds were entered into during the
period from July 8, 1996 to July 10, 1996. Other information regarding the Bonds
in the Trust on the Date of Deposit is as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        ANNUAL
                                                           PROFIT      INTEREST
                                              COST TO     (OR LOSS)    INCOME TO    BID PRICE
                   TRUST                      SPONSOR    TO SPONSOR      TRUST      OF BONDS
  ----------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  <S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
  COLORADO INSURED TRUST 64...............  $ 3,261,353  $   23,732   $  190,750   $ 3,268,835
</TABLE>
    
 
   
In addition,  the difference  between the  Trustee's determination  of  Offering
Price  and Bid Price (as a percentage of principal amount) is .46%. Neither cost
to Sponsor nor  profit (or  loss) to  Sponsor reflects  underwriting profits  or
losses  received  or  incurred  by  the  Sponsor  through  its  participation in
underwriting syndicates.  The Sponsor  did not  participate as  either the  sole
underwriter  or as a manager or member of a syndicate that acted as the original
underwriter of any of the Bonds.
    
 
    (2) The Bonds are first subject to optional redemption in the years, and  at
the  prices,  shown. Unless  otherwise indicated,  the  Bonds, except  for Bonds
issued at a  substantial original  issue discount, are  redeemable at  declining
prices  (but not below  par value) in subsequent  years. Original issue discount
bonds, including zero coupon bonds, are generally redeemable at prices based  on
the  issue  price  plus  the  amount  of  original  issue  discount  accreted to
redemption plus, if applicable, some premium,  the amount of which will  decline
in  subsequent years. The Bonds  may also be subject  to sinking fund redemption
without premium  prior to  the dates  shown.  Certain Bonds  may be  subject  to
redemption  without  premium prior  to  the date  shown  pursuant to  special or
mandatory call provisions specified in  the instruments setting forth the  terms
and  provisions of  such Bonds.  See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS", "WHAT  IS THE TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" and
"RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    (3) All the  Bonds in the  Insured Trusts,  as insured by  the Insurer,  are
rated  AAA by Standard  & Poor's and Aaa  by Moody's. In  addition, Units of the
Trust are rated "AAA" by  Standard & Poor's as a  result of such insurance.  The
"AAA" rating on the Units will be in effect for a period of thirteen months from
the  Date  of Deposit  and will,  unless renewed,  terminate at  the end  of the
period. The insurance obtained by the  Trust guarantees the payment of  interest
and  principal on  the Bonds when  due but  does not cover  certain market risks
associated with fixed income securities  such as accelerated payments,  premiums
payable  on mandatory redemptions or interest rate  risks. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE
THE BONDS INSURED?" in Part B of this Prospectus and "Description of Ratings" in
the Information Supplement.)
 
                                     5 of 7
<PAGE>
                             Statement of Condition
 
   
                        NUVEEN COLORADO INSURED TRUST 64
    
 
   
                    (Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875)
    
 
   
                              AS OF JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
    TRUST PROPERTY
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-Free Bonds,
  backed by an irrevocable letter of
  credit(1)(2)....................................  $    3,285,085
Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on underlying
  Bonds(1)........................................          37,504
Organizational costs(3)...........................           4,600
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,327,189
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
   LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITIES:
    Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on
     underlying Bonds(4)..........................  $       37,504
    Accrued organizational costs(3)...............           4,600
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $       42,104
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided interest
     outstanding (35,000)
      Cost to investors(5)........................  $    3,454,333
        Less: Gross underwriting commission(6)....        (169,248)
                                                    --------------
    Net amount applicable to investors............  $    3,285,085
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,327,189
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
(1) Represented by contracts  to purchase Tax-Exempt  Bonds which include  "when
    issued"  or  "regular  way" or  "delayed  delivery" contracts  for  which an
    irrevocable letter of  credit issued  by a  major commercial  bank has  been
    deposited with the Trustee on the Date of Deposit. The amount of such letter
    of  credit  and any  cash  deposited exceeds  the  amount necessary  for the
    purchase of the Bonds plus accrued interest  to the Date of Deposit. At  the
    Date  of Deposit, Bonds may  have been delivered to  the Sponsor pursuant to
    certain of these contracts; the Sponsor  has assigned to the Trustee all  of
    its rights, title and interest in and to such Bonds.
 
(2) Aggregate  value (at offering prices) as of the Date of Deposit of the Bonds
    listed under "Schedule of Investments"  herein, and their aggregate cost  to
    the  Trust are the same.  Such offering prices were  determined by Kenny S&P
    Evaluation Services, a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc., as of the close  of
    business on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See "HOW WAS THE
    PRICE  OF THE BONDS  DETERMINED AT THE DATE  OF DEPOSIT?" in  Part B of this
    Prospectus.) Insurance coverage providing for the timely payment, when  due,
    of  all principal of and interest on the  Bonds in an Insured Trust has been
    obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds. Such insurance does
    not guarantee the market value of the Bonds or the value of the Units.  Both
    the bid and the offering prices of the underlying Bonds and of the Units may
    include value attributable to such policies of insurance.
 
(3) The  Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of its
    estimated organizational costs  which will  be deferred  and amortized  over
    five years from the Date of Deposit.
 
(4) Representing,  as set forth in "WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?" in Part B of this
    Prospectus, advancement by  the Trustee of  an amount equal  to the  accrued
    Bond interest as of the Date of Deposit.
 
(5) Aggregate  Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed as
    set forth under "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B  of
    this Prospectus.
 
(6) The  gross underwriting commission of 4.90% of the Public Offering Price has
    been calculated on the assumption that the  Units sold are not subject to  a
    reduction  of sales  charge for  quantity purchases.  In single transactions
    involving 500 Units or more, the sales  charge is reduced. (See "HOW IS  THE
    PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
                                     6 of 7
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
TO  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF JOHN  NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED AND UNITHOLDERS OF
COLORADO INSURED TRUST 64:
    
 
   
    We have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the schedule  of
investments  at  date of  deposit (included  in  Part A  of this  Prospectus) of
Colorado Insured Trust 64 (contained in Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875),
as of July 11,  1996. These financial statements  are the responsibility of  the
Sponsor.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these financial
statements based on our audit.
    
 
    We conducted  our  audit  in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of the irrevocable letter of credit arrangement for the purchase of
securities,   described  in  Note   (1)  to  the   statement  of  condition,  by
correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used  and significant  estimates  made by  the  Sponsor, as  well  as
evaluating  the overall  financial statement  presentation. We  believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
    In our opinion, the statement of  condition and the schedule of  investments
at  date of deposit referred to above  present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position  of Colorado Insured  Trust 64  as of July  11, 1996,  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
    
 
                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
Chicago, Illinois,
July 11, 1996.
    
 
                                     7 of 7
<PAGE>
   
                                 JULY 11, 1996
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
    
                                           A
   
NUVEEN                  NUVEEN GEORGIA INSURED TRUST 52
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS SERIES 875)
    
                                               CUSIP NUMBERS:
   
                                               Monthly:               67101M 850
                                               Quarterly:             67101M 868
                                               Semi-Annually:         67101M 876
    
   
              PROSPECTUS--PART A (SPECIFIC TERMS) -- JULY 11, 1996
 THIS PART A OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE
                                   PART B OF
  THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS PROSPECTUS, TO WHICH SUCH REFERENCE HEREIN
                           APPLIES. ANY REFERENCE TO
   "NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS" IN PART B SHALL BE AMENDED TO READ "NUVEEN
                             TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS."
     BOTH PARTS OF THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
    
 
    Georgia   Insured  Trust  52  (the  "Trust")  consists  of  a  portfolio  of
interest-bearing obligations issued  by or on  behalf of the  State of  Georgia,
certain  United  States Territories  or  authorities and  political subdivisions
thereof which,  in  the  opinion  of recognized  bond  counsel  to  the  issuing
authorities,  provide income which is exempt from Federal income tax and Georgia
income tax, to the extent indicated below.
    The objectives of the Trust are income exempt from Federal and state  income
taxes,  and conservation  of capital. The  objectives are,  of course, dependent
upon the continuing  ability of the  issuers, obligors and/or  insurers to  meet
their respective obligations.
    The  Portfolio of  the Trust  consists of  7 obligations  issued by entities
located in  Georgia  and one  obligation  issued by  an  entity located  in  the
Territory  of Puerto Rico. The Bonds in the Trust are either general obligations
of the  governmental entity  issuing them  and are  backed by  the taxing  power
thereof  or  are payable  as  to principal  and interest  from  the income  of a
specific project or  authority and are  not supported by  the issuer's power  to
levy taxes. The sources of payment for the Bonds are divided as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     NUMBER OF                                              PORTFOLIO
      ISSUES                PURPOSE OF ISSUE                PERCENTAGE
  ---------------  ----------------------------------------------------
  <C>              <S>                                     <C>
         4         General Obligations                            43   %
         1         Dedicated-Tax Supported Revenue                14
         1         College and University Revenue                 14
         1         Electrical System Revenue                      14
         1         Water and/or Sewer Revenue                     14
</TABLE>
 
    All  of the Bonds in the Trust are covered by policies of insurance obtained
from the  MBIA  Insurance  Corporation guaranteeing  payment  of  principal  and
interest  when due. As a  result of such insurance, the  Bonds in the Trust have
received a rating of "Aaa"  by Moody's and both the  Bonds in the Trust and  the
Units of the Trust have received a rating of "AAA" by Standard & Poor's.
    For  a discussion of the  risks associated with investments  in the bonds of
various issuers, see "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
   
                             ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
                 REGARDING THE NUVEEN GEORGIA INSURED TRUST 52
        ON THE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 10, 1996
    
         Sponsor and Evaluator.......... John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
         Trustee........................ The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                ------------------------------------------------
 
The income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been  calculated
for   Unitholders  receiving  monthly,  quarterly  or  semi-annual  distribution
options.
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $     3,500,000
Number of Units.....................................           35,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....         1/35,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $     3,358,693
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $         95.96
    Plus Sales Charge 4.9% (5.152% of the Aggregate
     Offering Price of the Bonds per Unit)..........  $          4.94
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $        100.90
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $         95.50
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $         95.96
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $          5.40
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $          4.94
Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust(2)...........       25.3 years
</TABLE>
    
 
- ----------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON  THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
Information   contained  herein  is  subject   to  completion  or  amendment.  A
registration statement  relating to  these securities  has been  filed with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission. These securities  may not be  sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior  to the time the registration statement  becomes
effective.  This  Prospectus  shall  not  constitute an  offer  to  sell  or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in  any State in which such offer,  solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any State.
 
                                     1 of 7
<PAGE>
                         ESSENTIAL INFORMATION (CONT.)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  MONTHLY        QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
  <S>                                           <C>             <C>             <C>
  Calculation of Estimated Net Annual
    Interest Income Per Unit
      Annual Interest Income(3)............         $5.5431         $5.5431        $5.5431
      Less Estimated Annual Expense........          $.2476          $.2156         $.1966
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
      Estimated Net Annual Interest
        Income(4)..........................         $5.2955         $5.3275        $5.3465
  Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit...........         $.01470         $.01479        $.01485
  ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN(5)..............            5.25%           5.28%          5.30 %
  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN(5)............            5.30%           5.34%          5.36 %
  Trustee's Annual Fees(6).................         $1.6083         $1.2883        $1.0983
Date of Deposit......................................................................................July 11, 1996
Settlement Date......................................................................................July 16, 1996
Mandatory Termination Date....................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Minimum Value of Each Trust...................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.........................................$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses(7).......................................................$.02971 per Unit
- ----------
 
BECAUSE CERTAIN OF THE BONDS IN THE TRUST WILL NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE UNTIL AFTER THE SETTLEMENT DATE FOR
A PURCHASE OF UNITS MADE ON THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, INTEREST THAT ACCRUES ON THOSE BONDS BETWEEN THE DATE OF  DEPOSIT
AND  SUCH DELIVERY DATE WILL BE TREATED  AS A RETURN OF PRINCIPAL RATHER  THAN AS TAX-EXEMPT INCOME. THE AMOUNT OF
ANY SUCH RETURN  OF PRINCIPAL  IS NOT  INCLUDED IN  THE ANNUAL INTEREST  INCOME SHOWN  ABOVE. FOR  THE TRUST,  THE
FOLLOWING SETS FORTH THE LATEST SCHEDULED BOND DELIVERY DATE, THE AMOUNT PER UNIT THAT WILL BE TREATED AS A RETURN
OF  PRINCIPAL TO  UNITHOLDERS WHO  PURCHASE ON THE  DATE OF  DEPOSIT, AND THE  ESTIMATED CURRENT  RETURN UNDER THE
MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION PLAN AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, ASSUMING  THE PORTFOLIO AND ESTIMATED ANNUAL EXPENSES DO NOT  VARY
FROM  THAT SET FORTH ABOVE (SEE "WHAT  ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?" IN  PART B OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE
"SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS").  THE ESTIMATED  CURRENT RETURN  AFTER THE FIRST  YEAR WILL  ALSO BE  HIGHER UNDER  THE
QUARTERLY AND SEMI-ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION PLANS:
 
                                   LATEST SCHEDULED         PER UNIT         ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
                                    DELIVERY DATE     RETURN OF PRINCIPAL      AFTER THE FIRST YEAR
                                  ------------------  --------------------   -------------------------
  GEORGIA INSURED TRUST.........    JULY 29, 1996     $           .03                     5.28        %
</TABLE>
    
 
The  evaluation time for purpose  of sale, purchase or  redemption of Units is 4
p.m. Eastern time or as of  any earlier closing time on  a day on which the  New
York  Stock Exchange is scheduled in advance to close at such earlier time. (See
"HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
   
(1) Units are offered at  the Public Offering Price  plus accrued interest  from
    the  preceding Record  Date to,  but not  including, the  date of settlement
    (normally three business days  after purchase). The Date  of Deposit of  the
    Fund  has  been  designated  as  the First  Record  Date  for  all  plans of
    distribution of the Trust and, accordingly, for Units purchased on the  Date
    of Deposit, $.07 of accrued interest to the Settlement Date will be added to
    the  Public Offering Price.  (See "WHAT IS  ACCRUED INTEREST?" in  Part B of
    this Prospectus.)
    
 
(2) The Average Maturity  of Bonds  in the Trust  is calculated  based upon  the
    stated  maturities of the Bonds in the  Trust (or, with respect to Bonds for
    which funds or securities have been placed in escrow to redeem such Bonds on
    a stated call  date, based  upon such call  date). The  Average Maturity  of
    Bonds  in the  Trust may  increase or  decrease from  time to  time as Bonds
    mature or are called or sold.
 
(3) Assumes delivery of  all Bonds.  (See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS" appearing  in
    Part  B of this  Prospectus.) Interest income does  not include accretion of
    original issue  discount on  "zero coupon"  Bonds, Stripped  Obligations  or
    other  original issue discount Bonds. (See "RISK  FACTORS" in Part B of this
    Prospectus.)
 
(4) The amount and  timing of interest  distributions from the  Trust under  the
    various  plans of distribution  are set forth below.  It is anticipated that
    the amount of interest to  be distributed per Unit  in each year under  each
    plan  of distribution will initially be substantially equal to the Estimated
    Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan. The amount of interest to
    be distributed  annually  per  Unit,  will generally  change  as  Bonds  are
    redeemed, mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
(5) Estimated  Long  Term Return  for the  Trust represents  the average  of the
    yields to  maturity  (or  call)  of  the  Bonds  in  the  Trust's  portfolio
    calculated  in  accordance  with  accepted bond  practices  and  adjusted to
    reflect a compounding factor, expenses and sales charges. Estimated  Current
    Return  is computed by dividing  the Net Annual Interest  Income per Unit by
    the Public Offering  Price, and in  contrast to Estimated  Long Term  Return
    does  not reflect the  amortization of premium or  accretion of discount, if
    any. For  more information  see "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED  LONG TERM  RETURN  AND
    ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
(6) Each  Trustee annual  fee is per  $1,000 principal amount  of the underlying
    Bonds in  the  Trust  for  that  portion of  the  Trust  that  represents  a
    particular plan of distribution.
 
(7) The  Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of its
    organizational  costs  (including  costs   of  preparing  the   registration
    statements,  the trust  indenture and  other closing  documents, registering
    Units with the Securities  and Exchange Commission  and states, the  initial
    audit  of the Trust portfolio, legal fees  and the initial fees and expenses
    of the Trustee but  not including the expenses  incurred in the printing  of
    preliminary and final prospectuses, and expenses incurred in the preparation
    and  printing of  brochures and  other advertising  materials and  any other
    selling expenses)  as  is  common for  mutual  funds.  Total  organizational
    expenses  will be amortized  over a five  year period. See  "WHAT ARE NORMAL
    TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?" in  Part B of this  Prospectus and "Statement  of
    Condition."  Historically, the sponsors of  unit investment trusts have paid
    all the costs of establishing such trusts.
 
                                     2 of 7
<PAGE>
                             INTEREST DISTRIBUTION
 
    Details of interest distributions  per Unit of the  Trust under the  various
plans  appear in  the following table  based upon estimated  Net Annual Interest
Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          NORMAL
                                                                                                      DISTRIBUTIONS
                                                  1996                             1997                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .2956(1)                                                  $  5.3238
                                                          --------  $.4434 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .2956(1)   $  1.3383(2)   $  1.3383      $  1.3383        $  5.3558
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .2956(1)   $  1.3437(3)                  $  2.6874        $  5.3748
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
 * Record Dates for  semi-annual distributions  are May  1 and  November 1;  for
   quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.
   Record  Dates  for monthly  distributions are  the first  day of  each month.
   Distribution Dates under each distribution plan are the fifteenth day of  the
   month   in  which  the  respective   Record  Date  occurred.  For  additional
   information see "WHEN ARE  DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?"  in Part B  of
   this Prospectus.
 
(1) The  first distribution will  be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of the
    distribution plan selected.  Such distribution may  be more or  less than  a
    regular monthly distribution.
 
(2) Regular 3-month distribution.
 
   
(3) The second distribution under the semi-annual distribution plan represents a
    3-month  distribution; subsequent semi-annual  distributions will be regular
    6-month distributions.
    
 
                              GEORGIA RISK FACTORS
 
    The financial  condition of  the State  of Georgia  is affected  by  various
national,   economic,   social  and   environmental  policies   and  conditions.
Additionally, Constitutional and statutory limitations imposed on the State  and
its  local governments concerning taxes, bond indebtedness and other matters may
constrain the revenue-generating capacity of the State and its local governments
and, therefore,  the  ability of  the  issuers of  the  Bonds to  satisfy  their
obligations.   Historically,  the  State  has  experienced  significant  revenue
shortfalls.
 
    The economic vitality of the State  and its various regions and,  therefore,
the  ability of the  State and its  local governments to  satisfy the Bonds, are
affected by numerous factors. Recent widespread flooding in central and southern
Georgia has  caused  extensive  damage  and  destruction  of  farmland,  private
residences, businesses and local and state government facilities.
 
    The State is a party to numerous lawsuits in which an adverse final decision
could materially affect the State's governmental operations and consequently its
ability to pay debt service on its obligations.
 
    All  outstanding general  obligation bonds of  the State are  rated "AA+" by
Standard and Poor's and "Aaa" by Moody's.
 
    Further information concerning  Georgia risk  factors may  be obtained  upon
written  or telephonic request to the Trustee as described in "OTHER INFORMATION
- -- Supplemental Information" appearing in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
                                   TAX STATUS
 
    For a discussion of the Federal tax status of income earned on Trust  Units,
see  "WHAT  IS THE  TAX  STATUS OF  UNITHOLDERS?" appearing  in  Part B  of this
Prospectus.
 
    In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, counsel to the Sponsor, under existing
law:
 
        For Georgia income tax purposes, the Trust is not an association taxable
    as a corporation, and the income of the Trust will be treated as the  income
    of  the  Unitholders. Interest  on the  Bonds which  is exempt  from Georgia
    income tax  when received  by the  Trust,  and which  would be  exempt  from
    Georgia  income tax  if received directly  by a Unitholder,  will retain its
    status as tax-exempt interest when distributed by the Trust and received  by
    the Unitholders.
 
        If the Trustee disposes of a Bond (whether by sale, exchange, payment on
    maturity,  retirement or otherwise) or if  a Unitholder redeems or sells his
    Unit, the Unitholder  will recognize  gain or  loss for  Georgia income  tax
    purposes  to  the same  extent that  gain  or loss  would be  recognized for
    federal income tax purposes (except in the case of Bonds issued before March
    11, 1987 issued  with original issue  discount owned by  the Trust in  which
    case gain or loss for Georgia income tax purposes may differ from the amount
    recognized  for federal income tax  purposes because original issue discount
    on such Bonds may be determined by accruing said original issue discount  on
    a  ratable basis). Due to  the amortization of bond  premium and other basis
    adjustments required by
 
                                     3 of 7
<PAGE>
    the Internal  Revenue  Code, a  Unitholder,  under some  circumstances,  may
    realize  taxable gain  when his  or her  Units are  sold or  redeemed for an
    amount less than or equal to their original cost.
 
   
        Because obligations  or  evidences of  debt  of Georgia,  its  political
    subdivisions and public institutions and bonds issued by the Commonwealth of
    Puerto  Rico are exempt  from the Georgia  intangible personal property tax,
    the Trust will  not be subject  to such tax  as the result  of holding  such
    obligations,  evidences of debt or bonds. But see below regarding intangible
    personal property tax legislation.
    
 
   
        Amounts paid by the Insurer under an insurance policy or policies issued
    to the Trust, if any, with respect to the Bonds in the Trust which represent
    maturing interest  on defaulted  obligations  held by  the Trustee  will  be
    exempt from State income taxes if, and to the extent as, such interest would
    have  been so  exempt if  paid by  the issuer  of the  defaulted obligations
    provided that, at the time such policies are purchased, the amounts paid for
    such policies are reasonable, customary  and consistent with the  reasonable
    expectation  that the  issuer of the  obligations, rather  than the insurer,
    will pay debt service on the obligations.
    
 
   
        We express no opinion regarding  whether a Unitholder's ownership of  an
    interest in the Trust is subject to the Georgia intangible personal property
    tax.  Although the application  of the Georgia  intangible personal property
    tax to  the  ownership  of  the  Units by  the  Unitholders  is  not  clear,
    representatives  of  the  Georgia Department  of  Revenue have  in  the past
    advised us orally  that, for purposes  of the intangible  property tax,  the
    Department considers a Unitholder's ownership of an interest in the Trust as
    a  whole  to  be taxable  intangible  property separate  from  any ownership
    interest in  the  underlying  tax-exempt  Bonds.  But  see  below  regarding
    intangible personal property tax legislation.
    
 
   
        Neither  the Bonds nor the Units will be subject to Georgia sales or use
    tax.
    
 
   
        The Georgia state legislature has recently passed legislation that would
    repeal the  intangible  personal  property tax  in  Georgia.  Although  such
    legislation  would  be  effective  immediately,  lawmakers  in  Georgia  are
    uncertain as to whether the tax can be abolished by the General Assembly  or
    whether   a   constitutional  amendment   is  necessary.   Thus,  additional
    legislation was passed which would enable the Georgia legislature to  repeal
    the intangible tax, but only if voters approve a constitutional amendment in
    the  fall.  As the  effectiveness of  the legislation  repealing the  tax is
    uncertain at  this  time,  Unitholders  are advised  to  consult  their  tax
    advisers in this regard.
    
 
   
        Chapman  and Cutler  has expressed no  opinion with  respect to taxation
    under any other provision of Georgia law. Ownership of the Units may  result
    in  collateral Georgia  tax consequences  to certain  taxpayers. Prospective
    investors should consult their tax advisors  as to the applicability of  any
    such collateral consequences.
    
 
                                     4 of 7
<PAGE>
   
                        NUVEEN GEORGIA INSURED TRUST 52
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST SERIES 875)
         SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's        Price
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia,         No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa     $       482,330
                   General Power Revenue Bonds, 1993A Series,
                   5.50% Due 1/1/12.
    500,000      City of Atlanta (Georgia), General Obligation       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             508,605
                   Bonds, Public Improvement Bonds, Series
                   1994A, 6.125% Due 12/1/23.
    500,000     * Cherokee County (Georgia), Water and Sewerage   No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             476,350
                   Authority, Water and Sewerage Revenue Bonds,
                   Refunding and Improvements Series 1993, 5.50%
                   Due 8/1/23.
    500,000      Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall          No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             484,085
                   Authority (Georgia), Revenue Refunding Bonds,
                   Series 1993, 5.625% Due 10/1/26.
    250,000      The Hospital Authority of Crisp County,          No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             240,008
                   Georgia, Revenue Certificates (Crisp Regional
                   Hospital Project), Series 1996, 5.45% Due
                   7/1/15. (General Obligation Bonds.)
    500,000      Development Authority of DeKalb County              2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             463,555
                   (Georgia), Tax-Exempt Revenue Bonds (Emory
                   University Project), Series 1995A, 5.375% Due
                   11/1/25.
    250,000      Paulding County School District (Georgia),          2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             241,535
                   General Obligation School Bonds, Series 1995,
                   5.50% Due 2/1/15.
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2006 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             462,225
                   Bonds of 1996 (General Obligation Bonds.),
                   5.40% Due 7/1/25.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,358,693
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
*_ These  Bonds, or  a portion  thereof, have  delivery dates  beyond the normal
   settlement date. Their  expected delivery  date is July  29, 1996.  Contracts
   relating  to  Bonds with  delivery  dates after  the  date of  settlement for
   purchase made on  the Date  of Deposit  constitute approximately  14% of  the
   aggregate principal amount of the Trust. (See "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS" in Part
   B of this Prospectus.)
    
 
- ------------
 
    (1)  The Sponsor's contracts to purchase  Bonds were entered into during the
period from July 8, 1996 to July 9, 1996. Other information regarding the  Bonds
in the Trust on the Date of Deposit is as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        ANNUAL
                                                           PROFIT      INTEREST
                                              COST TO     (OR LOSS)    INCOME TO    BID PRICE
                   TRUST                      SPONSOR    TO SPONSOR      TRUST      OF BONDS
  ----------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  <S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
  GEORGIA INSURED TRUST 52................  $ 3,326,832  $   31,861   $  195,000   $ 3,342,443
</TABLE>
    
 
   
In  addition,  the difference  between the  Trustee's determination  of Offering
Price and Bid Price (as a percentage of principal amount) is .46%. Neither  cost
to  Sponsor nor  profit (or  loss) to  Sponsor reflects  underwriting profits or
losses received  or  incurred  by  the  Sponsor  through  its  participation  in
underwriting  syndicates. The  Sponsor did  not participate  as either  the sole
underwriter or as a manager or member of a syndicate that acted as the  original
underwriter of any of the Bonds.
    
 
    (2)  The Bonds are first subject to optional redemption in the years, and at
the prices,  shown. Unless  otherwise  indicated, the  Bonds, except  for  Bonds
issued  at a  substantial original issue  discount, are  redeemable at declining
prices (but not below  par value) in subsequent  years. Original issue  discount
bonds,  including zero coupon bonds, are generally redeemable at prices based on
the issue  price  plus  the  amount  of  original  issue  discount  accreted  to
redemption  plus, if applicable, some premium,  the amount of which will decline
in subsequent years. The  Bonds may also be  subject to sinking fund  redemption
without  premium  prior to  the dates  shown.  Certain Bonds  may be  subject to
redemption without  premium prior  to  the date  shown  pursuant to  special  or
mandatory  call provisions specified in the  instruments setting forth the terms
and provisions of  such Bonds.  See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS", "WHAT  IS THE  TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" and "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    (3)  All the  Bonds in the  Insured Trusts,  as insured by  the Insurer, are
rated AAA by Standard  & Poor's and  Aaa by Moody's. In  addition, Units of  the
Trust  are rated "AAA" by  Standard & Poor's as a  result of such insurance. The
"AAA" rating on the Units will be in effect for a period of thirteen months from
the Date  of Deposit  and will,  unless renewed,  terminate at  the end  of  the
period.  The insurance obtained by the  Trust guarantees the payment of interest
and principal on  the Bonds when  due but  does not cover  certain market  risks
associated  with fixed income securities  such as accelerated payments, premiums
payable on mandatory redemptions or interest  rate risks. (See "WHY AND HOW  ARE
THE BONDS INSURED?" in Part B of this Prospectus and "Description of Ratings" in
the Information Supplement.)
 
                                     5 of 7
<PAGE>
                             Statement of Condition
 
   
                        NUVEEN GEORGIA INSURED TRUST 52
    
 
   
                    (Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875)
    
 
   
                              AS OF JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
    TRUST PROPERTY
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-Free Bonds,
  backed by an irrevocable letter of
  credit(1)(2)....................................  $    3,358,693
Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on underlying
  Bonds(1)........................................          36,667
Organizational costs(3)...........................           5,200
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,400,560
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
   LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITIES:
    Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on
     underlying Bonds(4)..........................  $       36,667
    Accrued organizational costs(3)...............           5,200
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $       41,867
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided interest
     outstanding (35,000)
      Cost to investors(5)........................  $    3,531,733
        Less: Gross underwriting commission(6)....        (173,040)
                                                    --------------
    Net amount applicable to investors............  $    3,358,693
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,400,560
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
(1) Represented  by contracts to  purchase Tax-Exempt Bonds  which include "when
    issued" or  "regular  way" or  "delayed  delivery" contracts  for  which  an
    irrevocable  letter of  credit issued  by a  major commercial  bank has been
    deposited with the Trustee on the Date of Deposit. The amount of such letter
    of credit  and any  cash  deposited exceeds  the  amount necessary  for  the
    purchase  of the Bonds plus accrued interest  to the Date of Deposit. At the
    Date of Deposit, Bonds  may have been delivered  to the Sponsor pursuant  to
    certain  of these contracts; the Sponsor has  assigned to the Trustee all of
    its rights, title and interest in and to such Bonds.
 
(2) Aggregate value (at offering prices) as of the Date of Deposit of the  Bonds
    listed  under "Schedule of Investments" herein,  and their aggregate cost to
    the Trust are the  same. Such offering prices  were determined by Kenny  S&P
    Evaluation  Services, a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc., as of the close of
    business on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See "HOW WAS THE
    PRICE OF THE BONDS  DETERMINED AT THE  DATE OF DEPOSIT?" in  Part B of  this
    Prospectus.)  Insurance coverage providing for the timely payment, when due,
    of all principal of and interest on  the Bonds in an Insured Trust has  been
    obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds. Such insurance does
    not  guarantee the market value of the Bonds or the value of the Units. Both
    the bid and the offering prices of the underlying Bonds and of the Units may
    include value attributable to such policies of insurance.
 
(3) The Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of  its
    estimated  organizational costs  which will  be deferred  and amortized over
    five years from the Date of Deposit.
 
(4) Representing, as set forth in "WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?" in Part B of  this
    Prospectus,  advancement by  the Trustee of  an amount equal  to the accrued
    Bond interest as of the Date of Deposit.
 
(5) Aggregate Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed  as
    set  forth under "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of
    this Prospectus.
 
(6) The gross underwriting commission of 4.90% of the Public Offering Price  has
    been  calculated on the assumption that the  Units sold are not subject to a
    reduction of sales  charge for  quantity purchases.  In single  transactions
    involving  500 Units or more, the sales  charge is reduced. (See "HOW IS THE
    PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
                                     6 of 7
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF JOHN  NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED AND UNITHOLDERS  OF
GEORGIA INSURED TRUST 52:
    
 
   
    We  have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the schedule of
investments at  date of  deposit (included  in  Part A  of this  Prospectus)  of
Georgia  Insured Trust 52 (contained in Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875),
as of July 11,  1996. These financial statements  are the responsibility of  the
Sponsor.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these financial
statements based on our audit.
    
 
    We conducted  our  audit  in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of the irrevocable letter of credit arrangement for the purchase of
securities,   described  in  Note   (1)  to  the   statement  of  condition,  by
correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used  and significant  estimates  made by  the  Sponsor, as  well  as
evaluating  the overall  financial statement  presentation. We  believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
    In our opinion, the statement of  condition and the schedule of  investments
at  date of deposit referred to above  present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position  of Georgia  Insured Trust  52 as  of July  11, 1996,  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
    
 
                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
Chicago, Illinois,
July 11, 1996.
    
 
                                     7 of 7
<PAGE>
   
                                 JULY 11, 1996
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
    
                                           A
   
NUVEEN               NUVEEN MASSACHUSETTS INSURED TRUST 138
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS SERIES 875)
    
                                               CUSIP NUMBERS:
   
                                               Monthly:               670947 738
                                               Quarterly:             670947 746
                                               Semi-Annually:         670947 753
    
   
              PROSPECTUS--PART A (SPECIFIC TERMS) -- JULY 11, 1996
 THIS PART A OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE
                                   PART B OF
  THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS PROSPECTUS, TO WHICH SUCH REFERENCE HEREIN
                           APPLIES. ANY REFERENCE TO
   "NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS" IN PART B SHALL BE AMENDED TO READ "NUVEEN
                             TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS."
     BOTH PARTS OF THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
    
   
    Massachusetts  Insured Trust  138 (the "Trust")  consists of  a portfolio of
interest-bearing  obligations  issued  by   or  on  behalf   of  the  State   of
Massachusetts,  certain United  States Territories or  authorities and political
subdivisions thereof which,  in the opinion  of recognized bond  counsel to  the
issuing  authorities, provide income which is exempt from Federal income tax and
Massachusetts income tax, to the extent indicated below.
    
    The objectives of the Trust are income exempt from Federal and state  income
taxes,  and conservation  of capital. The  objectives are,  of course, dependent
upon the continuing  ability of the  issuers, obligors and/or  insurers to  meet
their respective obligations.
   
    The  Portfolio of  the Trust  consists of  7 obligations  issued by entities
located in Massachusetts. The Bonds in the Trust are either general  obligations
of  the governmental  entity issuing  them and  are backed  by the  taxing power
thereof or  are payable  as  to principal  and interest  from  the income  of  a
specific  project or authority  and are not  supported by the  issuer's power to
levy taxes. The sources of payment for the Bonds are divided as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     NUMBER OF                                              PORTFOLIO
      ISSUES                PURPOSE OF ISSUE                PERCENTAGE
  ---------------  ----------------------------------------------------
  <C>              <S>                                     <C>
         2         General Obligations                            29   %
         2         College and University Revenue                 29
         2         Health Care Facility Revenue                   29
         1         Water and/or Sewer Revenue                     14
</TABLE>
    
 
    All of the Bonds in the Trust are covered by policies of insurance  obtained
from  the  MBIA  Insurance  Corporation guaranteeing  payment  of  principal and
interest when due. As a  result of such insurance, the  Bonds in the Trust  have
received  a rating of "Aaa" by  Moody's and both the Bonds  in the Trust and the
Units of the Trust have received a rating of "AAA" by Standard & Poor's.
   
    The Trust  is  considered  to  be  concentrated  in  Bonds  of  College  and
University Revenue Issuers whose revenues are subject to certain risks including
declines  in  "college  age" individuals  and  the possible  inability  to raise
tuition and fees. The Trust  is also considered to  be concentrated in Bonds  of
Health Care Facility Revenue Issuers whose revenues are subject to certain risks
including  increased governmental  regulation, fluctuating  occupancy levels and
increased competition. For a discussion of the risks associated with investments
in the  bonds  of  various  issuers,  see "RISK  FACTORS"  in  Part  B  of  this
Prospectus.
    
   
                             ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
              REGARDING THE NUVEEN MASSACHUSETTS INSURED TRUST 138
        ON THE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 10, 1996
    
         Sponsor and Evaluator.......... John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
         Trustee........................ The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                ------------------------------------------------
The  income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been calculated
for  Unitholders  receiving  monthly,  quarterly  or  semi-annual   distribution
options.
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $     3,500,000
Number of Units.....................................           35,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....         1/35,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $     3,311,235
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $         94.61
    Plus Sales Charge 4.9% (5.152% of the Aggregate
     Offering Price of the Bonds per Unit)..........  $          4.87
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $         99.48
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $         94.13
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $         94.61
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $          5.35
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $          4.87
Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust(2)...........       26.6 years
</TABLE>
    
 
- ----------
 
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE  SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
Information  contained  herein  is  subject   to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement relating  to these  securities has  been filed  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission. These securities  may not be  sold nor  may
offers  to buy be accepted prior to  the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This  Prospectus  shall  not  constitute an  offer  to  sell  or  the
solicitation  of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation or sale would be unlawful  prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any State.
 
                                     1 of 7
<PAGE>
                         ESSENTIAL INFORMATION (CONT.)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  MONTHLY        QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
  <S>                                           <C>             <C>             <C>
  Calculation of Estimated Net Annual
    Interest Income Per Unit
      Annual Interest Income(3)............         $5.6250         $5.6250        $5.6250
      Less Estimated Annual Expense........          $.2470          $.2150         $.1960
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
      Estimated Net Annual Interest
        Income(4)..........................         $5.3780         $5.4100        $5.4290
  Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit...........         $.01493         $.01502        $.01508
  ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN(5)..............            5.41%           5.44%          5.46 %
  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN(5)............            5.50%           5.54%          5.56 %
  Trustee's Annual Fees(6).................         $1.6141         $1.2941        $1.1041
Date of Deposit......................................................................................July 11, 1996
Settlement Date......................................................................................July 16, 1996
Mandatory Termination Date....................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Minimum Value of Each Trust...................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.........................................$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses(7).......................................................$.02857 per Unit
- ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
The  evaluation time for purpose  of sale, purchase or  redemption of Units is 4
p.m. Eastern time or as of  any earlier closing time on  a day on which the  New
York  Stock Exchange is scheduled in advance to close at such earlier time. (See
"HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
   
(1) Units are offered at  the Public Offering Price  plus accrued interest  from
    the  preceding Record  Date to,  but not  including, the  date of settlement
    (normally three business days  after purchase). The Date  of Deposit of  the
    Fund  has  been  designated  as  the First  Record  Date  for  all  plans of
    distribution of the Trust and, accordingly, for Units purchased on the  Date
    of Deposit, $.07 of accrued interest to the Settlement Date will be added to
    the  Public Offering Price.  (See "WHAT IS  ACCRUED INTEREST?" in  Part B of
    this Prospectus.)
    
 
(2) The Average Maturity  of Bonds  in the Trust  is calculated  based upon  the
    stated  maturities of the Bonds in the  Trust (or, with respect to Bonds for
    which funds or securities have been placed in escrow to redeem such Bonds on
    a stated call  date, based  upon such call  date). The  Average Maturity  of
    Bonds  in the  Trust may  increase or  decrease from  time to  time as Bonds
    mature or are called or sold.
 
(3) Assumes delivery of  all Bonds.  (See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS" appearing  in
    Part  B of this  Prospectus.) Interest income does  not include accretion of
    original issue  discount on  "zero coupon"  Bonds, Stripped  Obligations  or
    other  original issue discount Bonds. (See "RISK  FACTORS" in Part B of this
    Prospectus.)
 
(4) The amount and  timing of interest  distributions from the  Trust under  the
    various  plans of distribution  are set forth below.  It is anticipated that
    the amount of interest to  be distributed per Unit  in each year under  each
    plan  of distribution will initially be substantially equal to the Estimated
    Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan. The amount of interest to
    be distributed  annually  per  Unit,  will generally  change  as  Bonds  are
    redeemed, mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
(5) Estimated  Long  Term Return  for the  Trust represents  the average  of the
    yields to  maturity  (or  call)  of  the  Bonds  in  the  Trust's  portfolio
    calculated  in  accordance  with  accepted bond  practices  and  adjusted to
    reflect a compounding factor, expenses and sales charges. Estimated  Current
    Return  is computed by dividing  the Net Annual Interest  Income per Unit by
    the Public Offering  Price, and in  contrast to Estimated  Long Term  Return
    does  not reflect the  amortization of premium or  accretion of discount, if
    any. For  more information  see "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED  LONG TERM  RETURN  AND
    ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
(6) Each  Trustee annual  fee is per  $1,000 principal amount  of the underlying
    Bonds in  the  Trust  for  that  portion of  the  Trust  that  represents  a
    particular plan of distribution.
 
(7) The  Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of its
    organizational  costs  (including  costs   of  preparing  the   registration
    statements,  the trust  indenture and  other closing  documents, registering
    Units with the Securities  and Exchange Commission  and states, the  initial
    audit  of the Trust portfolio, legal fees  and the initial fees and expenses
    of the Trustee but  not including the expenses  incurred in the printing  of
    preliminary and final prospectuses, and expenses incurred in the preparation
    and  printing of  brochures and  other advertising  materials and  any other
    selling expenses)  as  is  common for  mutual  funds.  Total  organizational
    expenses  will be amortized  over a five  year period. See  "WHAT ARE NORMAL
    TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?" in  Part B of this  Prospectus and "Statement  of
    Condition."  Historically, the sponsors of  unit investment trusts have paid
    all the costs of establishing such trusts.
 
                                     2 of 7
<PAGE>
                             INTEREST DISTRIBUTION
 
    Details of interest distributions  per Unit of the  Trust under the  various
plans  appear in  the following table  based upon estimated  Net Annual Interest
Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          NORMAL
                                                                                                      DISTRIBUTIONS
                                                  1996                             1997                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .2986(1)                                                  $  5.3780
                                                            --------$.4479 every month--------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .2986(1)   $  1.3518(2)   $  1.3518      $  1.3518        $  5.4100
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .2986(1)   $  1.3572(3)                  $  2.7144        $  5.4290
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
 * Record Dates for  semi-annual distributions  are May  1 and  November 1;  for
   quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.
   Record  Dates  for monthly  distributions are  the first  day of  each month.
   Distribution Dates under each distribution plan are the fifteenth day of  the
   month   in  which  the  respective   Record  Date  occurred.  For  additional
   information see "WHEN ARE  DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?"  in Part B  of
   this Prospectus.
 
(1) The  first distribution will  be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of the
    distribution plan selected.  Such distribution may  be more or  less than  a
    regular monthly distribution.
 
(2) Regular 3-month distribution.
 
   
(3) The second distribution under the semi-annual distribution plan represents a
    3-month  distribution; subsequent semi-annual  distributions will be regular
    6-month distributions.
    
 
                           MASSACHUSETTS RISK FACTORS
 
    The financial condition of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is affected  by
various  national, economic,  social and environmental  policies and conditions.
Additionally, limitations  imposed  by statute  and  voter initiative  upon  the
Commonwealth  and its local governments  concerning taxes, bond indebtedness and
other matters may constrain the revenue-generating capacity of the  Commonwealth
and  its local  governments and,  therefore, the ability  of the  issuers of the
Bonds to satisfy their obligations.
 
    The economic vitality of the State  and its various regions and,  therefore,
the  ability of the  State and its  local governments to  satisfy the Bonds, are
affected by numerous factors.  The employment in the  Commonwealth has been  and
continues  to be significantly  and adversely affected  by reductions in federal
government spending  on defense-related  industries. The  Commonwealth has  many
material  future  liabilities, including  an  underfunded retirement  system and
Medicaid expenditures.
 
    The Commonwealth is a party to  numerous lawsuits in which an adverse  final
decision  could materially affect the Commonwealth's governmental operations and
consequently its ability to pay debt service on its obligations.
 
    In recent years, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and certain of its public
bodies and municipalities, particularly  the City of  Boston have faced  serious
financial  difficulties which  have affected  the credit  standing and borrowing
abilities of Massachusetts and its respective entities and may have  contributed
to  higher interest  rates on  debt obligations.  Standard and  Poor's currently
rates the Commonwealth's uninsured general obligation bonds at A+, while Moody's
rates these obligations at A1.
 
    Further information concerning  Massachusetts risk factors  may be  obtained
upon  written  or  telephonic request  to  the  Trustee as  described  in "OTHER
INFORMATION -- Supplemental Information" appearing in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
                    TAX STATUS--MASSACHUSETTS INSURED TRUST
 
    For a discussion of the Federal tax status of income earned on Trust  Units,
see  "WHAT  IS THE  TAX  STATUS OF  UNITHOLDERS?" appearing  in  Part B  of this
Prospectus.
 
    In the opinion  of Edwards &  Angell, special Massachusetts  counsel to  the
Trust, based on rulings by the Commissioner of Revenue and under existing law:
 
    For  Massachusetts  income tax  purposes, each  Trust will  be treated  as a
corporate trust under Section 8 of Chapter 62 of the Massachusetts General  Laws
("M.G.L.") and not as a grantor trust under Section 10(e) of M.G.L. Chapter 62.
 
    The  Trust will  not be  held to  be engaging  in business  in Massachusetts
within the meaning  of said Section  8 and  will, therefore, not  be subject  to
Massachusetts income tax.
 
    Unitholders  who are subject  to Massachusetts income  taxation under M.G.L.
Chapter 62  will not  be required  to  include their  respective shares  of  the
earnings  of  or  distributions  from the  Trust  in  their  Massachusetts gross
 
                                     3 of 7
<PAGE>
income to the extent  that such earnings  or distributions represent  tax-exempt
interest  excludable from gross income for  Federal income tax purposes received
by  the   Trust  on   obligations  issued   by  Massachusetts,   its   counties,
municipalities,  authorities, political subdivisions  or instrumentalities or by
Puerto Rico, the  Virgin Islands, Guam,  the Northern Mariana  Islands or  other
possessions  of the United  States within the  meaning of Section  103(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Massachusetts Obligations").
 
    Unitholders who are  subject to Massachusetts  income taxation under  M.G.L.
Chapter  62  will not  be required  to  include their  respective shares  of the
earnings of or distributions from the Trust in their Massachusetts gross  income
to  the extent that such earnings or distributions are derived from the proceeds
of insurance  obtained  by  the  Sponsor  of the  Trust  or  by  the  issuer  or
underwriter  of an obligation held by the Trust that represent maturing interest
on defaulted obligations held  by the Trustee,  if and to  the same extent  that
such  earnings or distributions would have been excludable from the gross income
of such Unitholders if derived from interest paid by the issuer of the defaulted
obligation.
 
    Unitholders which are corporations subject to taxation under M.G.L.  Chapter
63  will be required  to include their  respective shares of  the earnings of or
distributions from the Trust in their  Massachusetts gross income to the  extent
that  such earnings  or distributions  represent interest  from bonds,  notes or
indebtedness of any state, including Massachusetts, except for interest which is
specifically exempted from  such tax by  the acts authorizing  issuance of  said
Massachusetts Obligations.
 
    The  Trust's capital gains and/or capital losses which are includable in the
Federal gross  income of  Unitholders who  are subject  to Massachusetts  income
taxation  under M.G.L. Chapter 62, or Unitholders which are corporations subject
to Massachusetts taxation under  M.G.L. Chapter 63 will  be included as  capital
gains  and/or losses in the Unitholders'  Massachusetts gross income, except for
capital gain which is specifically exempted from taxation under such Chapters by
the acts authorizing issuance of said Massachusetts Obligations.
 
    Unitholders which are corporations  subject to tax  under M.G.L. Chapter  63
and which are tangible property corporations will not be required to include the
Units  when determining the value of  their tangible property. Unitholders which
are intangible property corporations will be required to include the Units  when
determining their net worth.
 
    Gains or losses realized on sales or redemptions of Units by Unitholders who
are  subject  to  Massachusetts  income taxation  under  M.G.L.  Chapter  62, or
Unitholders which  are corporations  subject  to Massachusetts  income  taxation
under M.G.L. Chapter 63, will be includable in their Massachusetts gross income.
In  determining such gain or loss Unitholders  will, to the same extent required
for Federal tax purposes,  have to adjust  their tax bases  for their Units  for
accrued interest received, if any, on Massachusetts Obligations delivered to the
Trustee after the Unitholders pay for their Units, for amortization of premiums,
if any, on Massachusetts Obligations held by the Trust, and for accrued original
issue  discount with respect to each Massachusetts Obligation which, at the time
the Massachusetts Obligation was issued, had original issue discount.
 
    The Units  of the  Trust  are not  subject to  any  property tax  levied  by
Massachusetts or any political subdivision thereof, nor to any income tax levied
by  any such political subdivision. They are includable in the gross estate of a
deceased holder  who  is  a  resident  of  Massachusetts  for  purposes  of  the
Massachusetts Estate Tax.
 
                                     4 of 7
<PAGE>
   
                     NUVEEN MASSACHUSETTS INSURED TRUST 138
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST SERIES 875)
         SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's        Price
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority,         2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       480,000
                   General Transportation System Bonds, 1995
                   Series A, 5.75% Due 3/1/25. (General
                   Obligation Bonds.)
    500,000      Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities     2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             448,555
                   Authority, Revenue Bonds, New England Medical
                   Center Hospitals Issue, Series G-1, 5.375%
                   Due 7/1/24.
    500,000      Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities     2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             496,590
                   Authority, Revenue Bonds, Newton-Wellesley
                   Hospital Issue, Series E, 6.00% Due 7/1/25.
    500,000      Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities     2006 at 102        AAA         Aaa             480,000
                   Authority, Revenue Bonds, Suffolk University
                   Issue, Series C, 5.75% Due 7/1/26.
    500,000      Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency,            2006 at 102        AAA         Aaa             465,610
                   Revenue Bonds (College of the Holy Cross-1996
                   Issue), 5.50% Due 3/1/20.
    500,000      Massachusetts Water Resources Authority,          2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             496,620
                   General Revenue Bonds, 1994 Series A, 6.00%
                   Due 8/1/24.
    500,000      Quabbin Regional School District,                   2006 at 102        AAA         Aaa             443,860
                   Massachusetts, General Obligation Bonds
                   (Junior-Senior High School Project), 5.00%
                   Due 6/15/15.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,311,235
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
    (1)  The Sponsor's contracts to purchase  Bonds were entered into during the
period from July 8, 1996 to July 9, 1996. Other information regarding the  Bonds
in the Trust on the Date of Deposit is as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        ANNUAL
                                                           PROFIT      INTEREST
                                              COST TO     (OR LOSS)    INCOME TO    BID PRICE
                   TRUST                      SPONSOR    TO SPONSOR      TRUST      OF BONDS
  ----------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  <S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
  MASSACHUSETTS INSURED TRUST 138.........  $ 3,285,810  $   25,425   $  196,875   $ 3,294,360
</TABLE>
    
 
In  addition,  the difference  between the  Trustee's determination  of Offering
Price and Bid Price (as a percentage of principal amount) is .48%. Neither  cost
to  Sponsor nor  profit (or  loss) to  Sponsor reflects  underwriting profits or
losses received  or  incurred  by  the  Sponsor  through  its  participation  in
underwriting  syndicates. The  Sponsor did  not participate  as either  the sole
underwriter or as a manager or member of a syndicate that acted as the  original
underwriter of any of the Bonds.
 
    (2)  The Bonds are first subject to optional redemption in the years, and at
the prices,  shown. Unless  otherwise  indicated, the  Bonds, except  for  Bonds
issued  at a  substantial original issue  discount, are  redeemable at declining
prices (but not below  par value) in subsequent  years. Original issue  discount
bonds,  including zero coupon bonds, are generally redeemable at prices based on
the issue  price  plus  the  amount  of  original  issue  discount  accreted  to
redemption  plus, if applicable, some premium,  the amount of which will decline
in subsequent years. The  Bonds may also be  subject to sinking fund  redemption
without  premium  prior to  the dates  shown.  Certain Bonds  may be  subject to
redemption without  premium prior  to  the date  shown  pursuant to  special  or
mandatory  call provisions specified in the  instruments setting forth the terms
and provisions of  such Bonds.  See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS", "WHAT  IS THE  TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" and "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    (3)  All the  Bonds in the  Insured Trusts,  as insured by  the Insurer, are
rated AAA by Standard  & Poor's and  Aaa by Moody's. In  addition, Units of  the
Trust  are rated "AAA" by  Standard & Poor's as a  result of such insurance. The
"AAA" rating on the Units will be in effect for a period of thirteen months from
the Date  of Deposit  and will,  unless renewed,  terminate at  the end  of  the
period.  The insurance obtained by the  Trust guarantees the payment of interest
and principal on  the Bonds when  due but  does not cover  certain market  risks
associated  with fixed income securities  such as accelerated payments, premiums
payable on mandatory redemptions or interest  rate risks. (See "WHY AND HOW  ARE
THE BONDS INSURED?" in Part B of this Prospectus and "Description of Ratings" in
the Information Supplement.)
 
                                     5 of 7
<PAGE>
                             Statement of Condition
 
   
                     NUVEEN MASSACHUSETTS INSURED TRUST 138
    
 
   
                    (Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875)
    
 
   
                              AS OF JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
    TRUST PROPERTY
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-Free Bonds,
  backed by an irrevocable letter of
  credit(1)(2)....................................  $    3,311,235
Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on underlying
  Bonds(1)........................................          35,538
Organizational costs(3)...........................           5,000
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,351,773
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
   LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITIES:
    Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on
     underlying Bonds(4)..........................  $       35,538
    Accrued organizational costs(3)...............           5,000
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $       40,538
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided interest
     outstanding (35,000)
      Cost to investors(5)........................  $    3,481,830
        Less: Gross underwriting commission(6)....        (170,595)
                                                    --------------
    Net amount applicable to investors............  $    3,311,235
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,351,773
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
(1) Represented  by contracts to  purchase Tax-Exempt Bonds  which include "when
    issued" or  "regular  way" or  "delayed  delivery" contracts  for  which  an
    irrevocable  letter of  credit issued  by a  major commercial  bank has been
    deposited with the Trustee on the Date of Deposit. The amount of such letter
    of credit  and any  cash  deposited exceeds  the  amount necessary  for  the
    purchase  of the Bonds plus accrued interest  to the Date of Deposit. At the
    Date of Deposit, Bonds  may have been delivered  to the Sponsor pursuant  to
    certain  of these contracts; the Sponsor has  assigned to the Trustee all of
    its rights, title and interest in and to such Bonds.
 
(2) Aggregate value (at offering prices) as of the Date of Deposit of the  Bonds
    listed  under "Schedule of Investments" herein,  and their aggregate cost to
    the Trust are the  same. Such offering prices  were determined by Kenny  S&P
    Evaluation  Services, a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc., as of the close of
    business on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See "HOW WAS THE
    PRICE OF THE BONDS  DETERMINED AT THE  DATE OF DEPOSIT?" in  Part B of  this
    Prospectus.)  Insurance coverage providing for the timely payment, when due,
    of all principal of and interest on  the Bonds in an Insured Trust has  been
    obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds. Such insurance does
    not  guarantee the market value of the Bonds or the value of the Units. Both
    the bid and the offering prices of the underlying Bonds and of the Units may
    include value attributable to such policies of insurance.
 
(3) The Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of  its
    estimated  organizational costs  which will  be deferred  and amortized over
    five years from the Date of Deposit.
 
(4) Representing, as set forth in "WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?" in Part B of  this
    Prospectus,  advancement by  the Trustee of  an amount equal  to the accrued
    Bond interest as of the Date of Deposit.
 
(5) Aggregate Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed  as
    set  forth under "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of
    this Prospectus.
 
(6) The gross underwriting commission of 4.90% of the Public Offering Price  has
    been  calculated on the assumption that the  Units sold are not subject to a
    reduction of sales  charge for  quantity purchases.  In single  transactions
    involving  500 Units or more, the sales  charge is reduced. (See "HOW IS THE
    PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
                                     6 of 7
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF JOHN  NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED AND UNITHOLDERS  OF
MASSACHUSETTS INSURED TRUST 138:
    
 
   
    We  have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the schedule of
investments at  date of  deposit (included  in  Part A  of this  Prospectus)  of
Massachusetts Insured Trust 138 (contained in Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series
875),  as of July 11, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Sponsor. Our  responsibility is  to express  an opinion  on these  financial
statements based on our audit.
    
 
    We  conducted  our  audit  in accordance  with  generally  accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to  obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of the irrevocable letter of credit arrangement for the purchase of
securities,  described  in  Note   (1)  to  the   statement  of  condition,   by
correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles  used  and significant  estimates  made by  the  Sponsor, as  well as
evaluating the overall  financial statement  presentation. We  believe that  our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
    In  our opinion, the statement of  condition and the schedule of investments
at date of deposit referred to  above present fairly, in all material  respects,
the  financial position of Massachusetts Insured Trust  138 as of July 11, 1996,
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
    
 
                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
Chicago, Illinois,
July 11, 1996.
    
 
                                     7 of 7
<PAGE>
   
                                 JULY 11, 1996
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
    
                                           A
   
NUVEEN                NUVEEN NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 209
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS SERIES 875)
    
                                               CUSIP NUMBERS:
   
                                               Monthly:               6706LA 522
                                               Quarterly:             6706LA 530
                                               Semi-Annually:         6706LA 548
    
   
              PROSPECTUS--PART A (SPECIFIC TERMS) -- JULY 11, 1996
 THIS PART A OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE
                                   PART B OF
  THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS PROSPECTUS, TO WHICH SUCH REFERENCE HEREIN
                           APPLIES. ANY REFERENCE TO
   "NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS" IN PART B SHALL BE AMENDED TO READ "NUVEEN
                             TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS."
     BOTH PARTS OF THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
    
 
   
    New  Jersey  Insured Trust  209  (the "Trust")  consists  of a  portfolio of
interest-bearing obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of New  Jersey,
certain  United  States Territories  or  authorities and  political subdivisions
thereof which,  in  the  opinion  of recognized  bond  counsel  to  the  issuing
authorities,  provide income  which is  exempt from  Federal income  tax and New
Jersey income tax, to the extent indicated below.
    
    The objectives of the Trust are income exempt from Federal and state  income
taxes,  and conservation  of capital. The  objectives are,  of course, dependent
upon the continuing  ability of the  issuers, obligors and/or  insurers to  meet
their respective obligations.
   
    The  Portfolio of  the Trust  consists of  6 obligations  issued by entities
located in New  Jersey and one  obligation issued  by an entity  located in  the
Territory  of Puerto Rico. The Bonds in the Trust are either general obligations
of the  governmental entity  issuing them  and are  backed by  the taxing  power
thereof  or  are payable  as  to principal  and interest  from  the income  of a
specific project or  authority and are  not supported by  the issuer's power  to
levy taxes. The sources of payment for the Bonds are divided as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     NUMBER OF                                              PORTFOLIO
      ISSUES                PURPOSE OF ISSUE                PERCENTAGE
  ---------------  ----------------------------------------------------
  <C>              <S>                                     <C>
         2         Transportation Facility Revenue                29   %
         1         College and University Revenue                 14
         1         Electrical System Revenue                      14
         1         Industrial Revenue                             14
         1         General Obligations                            14
         1         Municipal Lease Revenue                        14
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    Approximately  14.3% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 13.5% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds) are original issue discount bonds. See  "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of  this
Prospectus  for a discussion  of the characteristics of  such obligations and of
the risks associated therewith.
    
    All of the Bonds in the Trust are covered by policies of insurance  obtained
from  the  MBIA  Insurance  Corporation guaranteeing  payment  of  principal and
interest when due. As a  result of such insurance, the  Bonds in the Trust  have
received  a rating of "Aaa" by  Moody's and both the Bonds  in the Trust and the
Units of the Trust have received a rating of "AAA" by Standard & Poor's.
   
    The Trust  is  considered to  be  concentrated in  Bonds  of  Transportation
Facility  Revenue Issuers whose revenues are  subject to certain risks including
increased competition and  traffic constraints.  For a discussion  of the  risks
associated  with investments in the bonds of various issuers, see "RISK FACTORS"
in Part B of this Prospectus.
    
   
                             ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
               REGARDING THE NUVEEN NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 209
        ON THE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 10, 1996
    
         Sponsor and Evaluator.......... John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
         Trustee........................ The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                ------------------------------------------------
 
The income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been  calculated
for   Unitholders  receiving  monthly,  quarterly  or  semi-annual  distribution
options.
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $     3,500,000
Number of Units.....................................           35,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....         1/35,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $     3,340,905
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $         95.45
    Plus Sales Charge 4.9% (5.152% of the Aggregate
     Offering Price of the Bonds per Unit)..........  $          4.92
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $        100.37
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $         94.95
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $         95.45
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $          5.42
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $          4.92
Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust(2)...........       28.5 years
</TABLE>
    
 
- ----------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON  THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
Information   contained  herein  is  subject   to  completion  or  amendment.  A
registration statement  relating to  these securities  has been  filed with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission. These securities  may not be  sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior  to the time the registration statement  becomes
effective.  This  Prospectus  shall  not  constitute an  offer  to  sell  or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in  any State in which such offer,  solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any State.
 
                                     1 of 7
<PAGE>
                         ESSENTIAL INFORMATION (CONT.)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  MONTHLY        QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
  <S>                                           <C>             <C>             <C>
  Calculation of Estimated Net Annual
    Interest Income Per Unit
      Annual Interest Income(3)............         $5.5857         $5.5857        $5.5857
      Less Estimated Annual Expense........          $.2413          $.2093         $.1903
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
      Estimated Net Annual Interest
        Income(4)..........................         $5.3444         $5.3764        $5.3954
  Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit...........         $.01484         $.01493        $.01498
  ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN(5)..............            5.32%           5.36%          5.38 %
  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN(5)............            5.38%           5.41%          5.43 %
  Trustee's Annual Fees(6).................         $1.5742         $1.2542        $1.0642
Date of Deposit......................................................................................July 11, 1996
Settlement Date......................................................................................July 16, 1996
Mandatory Termination Date....................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Minimum Value of Each Trust...................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.........................................$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses(7).......................................................$.02686 per Unit
- ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
The evaluation time for purpose  of sale, purchase or  redemption of Units is  4
p.m.  Eastern time or as of  any earlier closing time on  a day on which the New
York Stock Exchange is scheduled in advance to close at such earlier time.  (See
"HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
   
(1) Units  are offered at  the Public Offering Price  plus accrued interest from
    the preceding Record  Date to,  but not  including, the  date of  settlement
    (normally  three business days  after purchase). The Date  of Deposit of the
    Fund has  been  designated  as  the  First Record  Date  for  all  plans  of
    distribution  of the Trust and, accordingly, for Units purchased on the Date
    of Deposit, $.07 of accrued interest to the Settlement Date will be added to
    the Public Offering  Price. (See "WHAT  IS ACCRUED INTEREST?"  in Part B  of
    this Prospectus.)
    
 
(2) The  Average Maturity  of Bonds  in the Trust  is calculated  based upon the
    stated maturities of the Bonds in the  Trust (or, with respect to Bonds  for
    which funds or securities have been placed in escrow to redeem such Bonds on
    a  stated call  date, based  upon such call  date). The  Average Maturity of
    Bonds in the  Trust may  increase or  decrease from  time to  time as  Bonds
    mature or are called or sold.
 
(3) Assumes  delivery of  all Bonds. (See  "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS" appearing in
    Part B of this  Prospectus.) Interest income does  not include accretion  of
    original  issue  discount on  "zero coupon"  Bonds, Stripped  Obligations or
    other original issue discount Bonds. (See  "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of  this
    Prospectus.)
 
(4) The  amount and  timing of interest  distributions from the  Trust under the
    various plans of distribution  are set forth below.  It is anticipated  that
    the  amount of interest to  be distributed per Unit  in each year under each
    plan of distribution will initially be substantially equal to the  Estimated
    Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan. The amount of interest to
    be  distributed  annually  per  Unit, will  generally  change  as  Bonds are
    redeemed, mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
(5) Estimated Long  Term Return  for the  Trust represents  the average  of  the
    yields  to  maturity  (or  call)  of  the  Bonds  in  the  Trust's portfolio
    calculated in  accordance  with  accepted bond  practices  and  adjusted  to
    reflect  a compounding factor, expenses and sales charges. Estimated Current
    Return is computed by  dividing the Net Annual  Interest Income per Unit  by
    the  Public Offering  Price, and in  contrast to Estimated  Long Term Return
    does not reflect the  amortization of premium or  accretion of discount,  if
    any.  For  more information  see "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED  LONG TERM  RETURN AND
    ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
(6) Each Trustee annual  fee is per  $1,000 principal amount  of the  underlying
    Bonds  in  the  Trust  for  that portion  of  the  Trust  that  represents a
    particular plan of distribution.
 
(7) The Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of  its
    organizational   costs  (including  costs   of  preparing  the  registration
    statements, the  trust indenture  and other  closing documents,  registering
    Units  with the Securities  and Exchange Commission  and states, the initial
    audit of the Trust portfolio, legal  fees and the initial fees and  expenses
    of  the Trustee but not  including the expenses incurred  in the printing of
    preliminary and final prospectuses, and expenses incurred in the preparation
    and printing  of brochures  and other  advertising materials  and any  other
    selling  expenses)  as  is  common for  mutual  funds.  Total organizational
    expenses will be  amortized over a  five year period.  See "WHAT ARE  NORMAL
    TRUST  OPERATING EXPENSES?" in  Part B of this  Prospectus and "Statement of
    Condition." Historically, the sponsors of  unit investment trusts have  paid
    all the costs of establishing such trusts.
 
                                     2 of 7
<PAGE>
                             INTEREST DISTRIBUTION
 
    Details  of interest distributions  per Unit of the  Trust under the various
plans appear in  the following table  based upon estimated  Net Annual  Interest
Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          NORMAL
                                                                                                      DISTRIBUTIONS
                                                  1996                             1997                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .2968(1)                                                  $  5.3444
                                                            --------$.4452 every month--------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .2968(1)   $  1.3437(2)   $  1.3437      $  1.3437        $  5.3764
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .2968(1)   $  1.3482(3)                  $  2.6964        $  5.3954
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
 * Record  Dates for  semi-annual distributions  are May  1 and  November 1; for
   quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.
   Record Dates  for monthly  distributions are  the first  day of  each  month.
   Distribution  Dates under each distribution plan are the fifteenth day of the
   month  in  which  the  respective   Record  Date  occurred.  For   additional
   information  see "WHEN ARE  DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?"  in Part B of
   this Prospectus.
 
(1) The first distribution will  be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of  the
    distribution  plan selected.  Such distribution may  be more or  less than a
    regular monthly distribution.
 
(2) Regular 3-month distribution.
 
   
(3) The second distribution under the semi-annual distribution plan represents a
    3-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual  distributions will be  regular
    6-month distributions.
    
 
                            NEW JERSEY RISK FACTORS
 
    The  financial condition of the  State of New Jersey  is affected by various
national,  economic,   social  and   environmental  policies   and   conditions.
Additionally,  Constitutional and statutory limitations imposed on the State and
its local governments concerning taxes, bond indebtedness and other matters  may
constrain the revenue-generating capacity of the State and its local governments
and,  therefore,  the ability  of  the issuers  of  the Bonds  to  satisfy their
obligations.
 
    The economic vitality of the State  and its various regions and,  therefore,
the  ability of the  State and its  local governments to  satisfy the Bonds, are
affected  by  numerous  factors.  The  State's  economic  base  is  diversified,
consisting  of manufacturing, construction  and service industries, supplemented
by rural areas with selective commercial agriculture. The State has a relatively
high wage  labor  market which  has  resulted  in the  State's  business  sector
becoming more vulnerable to competitive pressures.
 
    The State is a party to numerous lawsuits in which an adverse final decision
could materially affect the State's governmental operations and consequently its
ability to pay debt service on its obligations.
 
    All  outstanding general  obligation bonds of  the State are  rated "AA+" by
Standard and Poor's and "Aa1" by Moody's.
 
    Further information concerning New Jersey risk factors may be obtained  upon
written  or telephonic request to the Trustee as described in "OTHER INFORMATION
- -- Supplemental Information" appearing in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
                                   TAX STATUS
 
    For a discussion of the Federal tax status of income earned on Trust  Units,
see "WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    The  assets of the Trust will consist of interest-bearing obligations issued
by or  on  behalf of  the  State of  New  Jersey and  counties,  municipalities,
authorities and other political subdivisions thereof, and certain territories of
the  United  States, including  Puerto Rico,  Guam, the  Virgin Islands  and the
Northern Mariana Islands (the "New Jersey Bonds").
 
    In the opinion of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch, special counsel to the Trust
for New Jersey tax matters, under existing law:
 
        The Trust will be recognized as  a Trust and not an association  taxable
    as  a  corporation.  The  Trust  will  not  be  subject  to  the  New Jersey
    Corporation Business Tax or the New Jersey Corporation Income Tax.
 
        With respect to the non-corporate  Unitholders who are residents of  New
    Jersey,  the  income of  the Trust  will be  treated as  the income  of such
    Unitholders  under  the  New  Jersey  Gross  Income  Tax.  Interest  on  the
    underlying  New Jersey Bonds which  is exempt from tax  under the New Jersey
    Gross Income Tax Law when  received by the Trust  will retain its status  as
    tax-exempt interest when distributed to the Unitholders.
 
                                     3 of 7
<PAGE>
        A  non-corporate Unitholder will not be  subject to the New Jersey Gross
    Income Tax on  any gain realized  either when  the Trust disposes  of a  New
    Jersey  Bond (whether by sale, exchange, redemption, or payment at maturity)
    or when the Unitholder redeems or sells his Units. Any loss realized on such
    disposition may not be utilized to offset gains realized by such  Unitholder
    on  the disposition of assets the gain on which is subject to the New Jersey
    Gross Income Tax.
 
        Units of the Trust may be taxable on the death of a Unitholder under the
    New Jersey Transfer Inheritance Tax Law or the New Jersey Estate Tax Law.
 
        If a Unitholder is a corporation  subject to the New Jersey  Corporation
    Business  Tax or New Jersey Corporation  Income Tax, interest from the Bonds
    in the Trust which  is allocable to such  corporation will be includable  in
    its  entire net income  for purposes of the  New Jersey Corporation Business
    Tax or New Jersey Corporation Income Tax, less any interest expense incurred
    to carry such investment  to the extent such  interest expense has not  been
    deducted  in computing  Federal taxable  income. Net  gains derived  by such
    corporation on the disposition of  the New Jersey Bonds  by the Trust or  on
    the  disposition of its Units will be  included in its entire net income for
    purposes  of  the  New  Jersey  Corporation  Business  Tax  or  New   Jersey
    Corporation Income Tax.
 
                                     4 of 7
<PAGE>
   
                      NUVEEN NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 209
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST SERIES 875)
         SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's        Price
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      New Jersey Economic Development Authority,          2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       502,500
                   Insured Revenue Bonds (Educational Testing
                   Service Issue), Series 1995A, 6.00% Due
                   5/15/25.
    500,000      New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority,        2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             457,465
                   Revenue Bonds, University of Medicine and
                   Dentistry of New Jersey Issue, Series 1995 B,
                   5.25% Due 12/1/21.
    500,000      The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,      2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             485,465
                   Consolidated Bonds, One Hundredth Series,
                   5.75% Due 6/15/30.
    500,000      New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority,     2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             451,720
                   Transportation System Bonds, 1995 Series A,
                   5.00% Due 6/15/15. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about August 3, 1995 at
                   a price of 90.629% of principal amount.)
    500,000      Delaware River Port Authority (New Jersey and       2006 at 102        AAA         Aaa             472,195
                   Pennsylvania), Revenue Bonds, Series of 1995,
                   5.50% Due 1/1/26.
    500,000      The Pollution Control Financing Authority of        2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             509,335
                   Salem County (New Jersey), Pollution Control
                   Revenue Refunding Bonds, 1994 Series C
                   (Public Service Electric and Gas Company
                   Project), 6.20% Due 8/1/30.
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2006 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             462,225
                   Bonds of 1996 (General Obligation Bonds.),
                   5.40% Due 7/1/25.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,340,905
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
    (1)  The Sponsor's contracts to purchase Bonds were entered into on July 10,
1996. Other information regarding the Bonds in the Trust on the Date of  Deposit
is as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        ANNUAL
                                                           PROFIT      INTEREST
                                              COST TO     (OR LOSS)    INCOME TO    BID PRICE
                   TRUST                      SPONSOR    TO SPONSOR      TRUST      OF BONDS
  ----------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  <S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
  NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 209............  $ 3,333,478  $    7,427   $  195,500   $ 3,323,405
</TABLE>
    
 
   
In  addition,  the difference  between the  Trustee's determination  of Offering
Price and Bid Price (as a percentage of principal amount) is .50%. Neither  cost
to  Sponsor nor  profit (or  loss) to  Sponsor reflects  underwriting profits or
losses received  or  incurred  by  the  Sponsor  through  its  participation  in
underwriting  syndicates. The  Sponsor did  not participate  as either  the sole
underwriter or as a manager or member of a syndicate that acted as the  original
underwriter of any of the Bonds.
    
 
    (2)  The Bonds are first subject to optional redemption in the years, and at
the prices,  shown. Unless  otherwise  indicated, the  Bonds, except  for  Bonds
issued  at a  substantial original issue  discount, are  redeemable at declining
prices (but not below  par value) in subsequent  years. Original issue  discount
bonds,  including zero coupon bonds, are generally redeemable at prices based on
the issue  price  plus  the  amount  of  original  issue  discount  accreted  to
redemption  plus, if applicable, some premium,  the amount of which will decline
in subsequent years. The  Bonds may also be  subject to sinking fund  redemption
without  premium  prior to  the dates  shown.  Certain Bonds  may be  subject to
redemption without  premium prior  to  the date  shown  pursuant to  special  or
mandatory  call provisions specified in the  instruments setting forth the terms
and provisions of  such Bonds.  See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS", "WHAT  IS THE  TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" and "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    (3)  All the  Bonds in the  Insured Trusts,  as insured by  the Insurer, are
rated AAA by Standard  & Poor's and  Aaa by Moody's. In  addition, Units of  the
Trust  are rated "AAA" by  Standard & Poor's as a  result of such insurance. The
"AAA" rating on the Units will be in effect for a period of thirteen months from
the Date  of Deposit  and will,  unless renewed,  terminate at  the end  of  the
period.  The insurance obtained by the  Trust guarantees the payment of interest
and principal on  the Bonds when  due but  does not cover  certain market  risks
associated  with fixed income securities  such as accelerated payments, premiums
payable on mandatory redemptions or interest  rate risks. (See "WHY AND HOW  ARE
THE BONDS INSURED?" in Part B of this Prospectus and "Description of Ratings" in
the Information Supplement.)
 
                                     5 of 7
<PAGE>
                             Statement of Condition
 
   
                      NUVEEN NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 209
    
 
   
                    (Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875)
    
 
   
                              AS OF JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
    TRUST PROPERTY
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-Free Bonds,
  backed by an irrevocable letter of
  credit(1)(2)....................................  $    3,340,905
Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on underlying
  Bonds(1)........................................          26,757
Organizational costs(3)...........................           4,700
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,372,362
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
   LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITIES:
    Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on
     underlying Bonds(4)..........................  $       26,757
    Accrued organizational costs(3)...............           4,700
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $       31,457
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided interest
     outstanding (35,000)
      Cost to investors(5)........................  $    3,513,028
        Less: Gross underwriting commission(6)....        (172,123)
                                                    --------------
    Net amount applicable to investors............  $    3,340,905
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,372,362
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
(1) Represented  by contracts to  purchase Tax-Exempt Bonds  which include "when
    issued" or  "regular  way" or  "delayed  delivery" contracts  for  which  an
    irrevocable  letter of  credit issued  by a  major commercial  bank has been
    deposited with the Trustee on the Date of Deposit. The amount of such letter
    of credit  and any  cash  deposited exceeds  the  amount necessary  for  the
    purchase  of the Bonds plus accrued interest  to the Date of Deposit. At the
    Date of Deposit, Bonds  may have been delivered  to the Sponsor pursuant  to
    certain  of these contracts; the Sponsor has  assigned to the Trustee all of
    its rights, title and interest in and to such Bonds.
 
(2) Aggregate value (at offering prices) as of the Date of Deposit of the  Bonds
    listed  under "Schedule of Investments" herein,  and their aggregate cost to
    the Trust are the  same. Such offering prices  were determined by Kenny  S&P
    Evaluation  Services, a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc., as of the close of
    business on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See "HOW WAS THE
    PRICE OF THE BONDS  DETERMINED AT THE  DATE OF DEPOSIT?" in  Part B of  this
    Prospectus.)  Insurance coverage providing for the timely payment, when due,
    of all principal of and interest on  the Bonds in an Insured Trust has  been
    obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds. Such insurance does
    not  guarantee the market value of the Bonds or the value of the Units. Both
    the bid and the offering prices of the underlying Bonds and of the Units may
    include value attributable to such policies of insurance.
 
(3) The Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of  its
    estimated  organizational costs  which will  be deferred  and amortized over
    five years from the Date of Deposit.
 
(4) Representing, as set forth in "WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?" in Part B of  this
    Prospectus,  advancement by  the Trustee of  an amount equal  to the accrued
    Bond interest as of the Date of Deposit.
 
(5) Aggregate Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed  as
    set  forth under "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of
    this Prospectus.
 
(6) The gross underwriting commission of 4.90% of the Public Offering Price  has
    been  calculated on the assumption that the  Units sold are not subject to a
    reduction of sales  charge for  quantity purchases.  In single  transactions
    involving  500 Units or more, the sales  charge is reduced. (See "HOW IS THE
    PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
                                     6 of 7
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF JOHN  NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED AND UNITHOLDERS  OF
NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 209:
    
 
   
    We  have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the schedule of
investments at date of deposit  (included in Part A  of this Prospectus) of  New
Jersey  Insured Trust 209 (contained in Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875),
as of July 11,  1996. These financial statements  are the responsibility of  the
Sponsor.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these financial
statements based on our audit.
    
 
    We conducted  our  audit  in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of the irrevocable letter of credit arrangement for the purchase of
securities,   described  in  Note   (1)  to  the   statement  of  condition,  by
correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used  and significant  estimates  made by  the  Sponsor, as  well  as
evaluating  the overall  financial statement  presentation. We  believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
    In our opinion, the statement of  condition and the schedule of  investments
at  date of deposit referred to above  present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position of New Jersey Insured  Trust 209 as of July 11, 1996,  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
    
 
                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
Chicago, Illinois,
July 11, 1996.
    
 
                                     7 of 7
<PAGE>
   
                                 JULY 11, 1996
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
    
                                           A
   
NUVEEN                   NUVEEN OHIO INSURED TRUST 135
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS SERIES 875)
    
                                               CUSIP NUMBERS:
   
                                               Monthly:               67102G 225
                                               Quarterly:             67102G 233
                                               Semi-Annually:         67102G 241
    
   
              PROSPECTUS--PART A (SPECIFIC TERMS) -- JULY 11, 1996
 THIS PART A OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE
                                   PART B OF
  THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS PROSPECTUS, TO WHICH SUCH REFERENCE HEREIN
                           APPLIES. ANY REFERENCE TO
   "NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS" IN PART B SHALL BE AMENDED TO READ "NUVEEN
                             TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS."
     BOTH PARTS OF THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
    
    Ohio   Insured  Trust  135   (the  "Trust")  consists   of  a  portfolio  of
interest-bearing obligations  issued by  or  on behalf  of  the State  of  Ohio,
certain  United  States Territories  or  authorities and  political subdivisions
thereof which,  in  the  opinion  of recognized  bond  counsel  to  the  issuing
authorities,  provide income  which is exempt  from Federal income  tax and Ohio
state and local income tax, to the extent indicated below.
    The objectives of the Trust are income exempt from Federal and state  income
taxes,  and conservation  of capital. The  objectives are,  of course, dependent
upon the continuing  ability of the  issuers, obligors and/or  insurers to  meet
their respective obligations.
    The  Portfolio of  the Trust  consists of  6 obligations  issued by entities
located in Ohio and one obligation issued by an entity located in the  Territory
of  Puerto Rico. The  Bonds in the  Trust are either  general obligations of the
governmental entity issuing them and are  backed by the taxing power thereof  or
are  payable as to principal and interest  from the income of a specific project
or authority and  are not supported  by the  issuer's power to  levy taxes.  The
sources of payment for the Bonds are divided as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     NUMBER OF                                              PORTFOLIO
      ISSUES                PURPOSE OF ISSUE                PERCENTAGE
  ---------------  ----------------------------------------------------
  <C>              <S>                                     <C>
         2         General Obligations                            29   %
         2         Health Care Facility Revenue                   29
         1         Electrical System Revenue                      14
         1         Bridge and Toll Road Revenue                   14
         1         Water and/or Sewer Revenue                     14
</TABLE>
 
    Approximately  14.3% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 14.0% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds) are original issue discount bonds. See  "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of  this
Prospectus  for a discussion  of the characteristics of  such obligations and of
the risks associated therewith.
    All of the Bonds in the Trust are covered by policies of insurance  obtained
from  the  MBIA  Insurance  Corporation guaranteeing  payment  of  principal and
interest when due. As a  result of such insurance, the  Bonds in the Trust  have
received  a rating of "Aaa" by  Moody's and both the Bonds  in the Trust and the
Units of the Trust have received a rating of "AAA" by Standard & Poor's.
   
    The Trust is considered to be concentrated in Bonds of Health Care  Facility
Revenue  Issuers whose revenues are subject to certain risks including increased
governmental regulation, fluctuating occupancy levels and increased competition.
For a  discussion of  the risks  associated  with investments  in the  bonds  of
various issuers, see "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
    
   
                             ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
                  REGARDING THE NUVEEN OHIO INSURED TRUST 135
        ON THE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 10, 1996
    
         Sponsor and Evaluator.......... John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
         Trustee........................ The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                ------------------------------------------------
 
The  income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been calculated
for  Unitholders  receiving  monthly,  quarterly  or  semi-annual   distribution
options.
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $     3,500,000
Number of Units.....................................           35,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....         1/35,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $     3,358,325
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $         95.95
    Plus Sales Charge 4.9% (5.152% of the Aggregate
     Offering Price of the Bonds per Unit)..........  $          4.94
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $        100.89
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $         95.45
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $         95.95
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $          5.44
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $          4.94
Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust(2)...........       29.0 years
</TABLE>
    
 
- ----------
 
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE  SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
Information  contained  herein  is  subject   to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement relating  to these  securities has  been filed  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission. These securities  may not be  sold nor  may
offers  to buy be accepted prior to  the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This  Prospectus  shall  not  constitute an  offer  to  sell  or  the
solicitation  of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation or sale would be unlawful  prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any State.
 
                                     1 of 7
<PAGE>
                         ESSENTIAL INFORMATION (CONT.)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  MONTHLY        QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
  <S>                                           <C>             <C>             <C>
  Calculation of Estimated Net Annual
    Interest Income Per Unit
      Annual Interest Income(3)............         $5.6821         $5.6821        $5.6821
      Less Estimated Annual Expense........          $.2437          $.2117         $.1927
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
      Estimated Net Annual Interest
        Income(4)..........................         $5.4384         $5.4704        $5.4894
  Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit...........         $.01510         $.01519        $.01524
  ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN(5)..............            5.39%           5.42%          5.44 %
  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN(5)............            5.43%           5.46%          5.48 %
  Trustee's Annual Fees(6).................         $1.5580         $1.2380        $1.0480
Date of Deposit......................................................................................July 11, 1996
Settlement Date......................................................................................July 16, 1996
Mandatory Termination Date....................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Minimum Value of Each Trust...................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.........................................$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses(7).......................................................$.03086 per Unit
- ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
The  evaluation time for purpose  of sale, purchase or  redemption of Units is 4
p.m. Eastern time or as of  any earlier closing time on  a day on which the  New
York  Stock Exchange is scheduled in advance to close at such earlier time. (See
"HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
   
(1) Units are offered at  the Public Offering Price  plus accrued interest  from
    the  preceding Record  Date to,  but not  including, the  date of settlement
    (normally three business days  after purchase). The Date  of Deposit of  the
    Fund  has  been  designated  as  the First  Record  Date  for  all  plans of
    distribution of the Trust and, accordingly, for Units purchased on the  Date
    of Deposit, $.08 of accrued interest to the Settlement Date will be added to
    the  Public Offering Price.  (See "WHAT IS  ACCRUED INTEREST?" in  Part B of
    this Prospectus.)
    
 
(2) The Average Maturity  of Bonds  in the Trust  is calculated  based upon  the
    stated  maturities of the Bonds in the  Trust (or, with respect to Bonds for
    which funds or securities have been placed in escrow to redeem such Bonds on
    a stated call  date, based  upon such call  date). The  Average Maturity  of
    Bonds  in the  Trust may  increase or  decrease from  time to  time as Bonds
    mature or are called or sold.
 
(3) Assumes delivery of  all Bonds.  (See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS" appearing  in
    Part  B of this  Prospectus.) Interest income does  not include accretion of
    original issue  discount on  "zero coupon"  Bonds, Stripped  Obligations  or
    other  original issue discount Bonds. (See "RISK  FACTORS" in Part B of this
    Prospectus.)
 
(4) The amount and  timing of interest  distributions from the  Trust under  the
    various  plans of distribution  are set forth below.  It is anticipated that
    the amount of interest to  be distributed per Unit  in each year under  each
    plan  of distribution will initially be substantially equal to the Estimated
    Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan. The amount of interest to
    be distributed  annually  per  Unit,  will generally  change  as  Bonds  are
    redeemed, mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
(5) Estimated  Long  Term Return  for the  Trust represents  the average  of the
    yields to  maturity  (or  call)  of  the  Bonds  in  the  Trust's  portfolio
    calculated  in  accordance  with  accepted bond  practices  and  adjusted to
    reflect a compounding factor, expenses and sales charges. Estimated  Current
    Return  is computed by dividing  the Net Annual Interest  Income per Unit by
    the Public Offering  Price, and in  contrast to Estimated  Long Term  Return
    does  not reflect the  amortization of premium or  accretion of discount, if
    any. For  more information  see "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED  LONG TERM  RETURN  AND
    ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
(6) Each  Trustee annual  fee is per  $1,000 principal amount  of the underlying
    Bonds in  the  Trust  for  that  portion of  the  Trust  that  represents  a
    particular plan of distribution.
 
(7) The  Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of its
    organizational  costs  (including  costs   of  preparing  the   registration
    statements,  the trust  indenture and  other closing  documents, registering
    Units with the Securities  and Exchange Commission  and states, the  initial
    audit  of the Trust portfolio, legal fees  and the initial fees and expenses
    of the Trustee but  not including the expenses  incurred in the printing  of
    preliminary and final prospectuses, and expenses incurred in the preparation
    and  printing of  brochures and  other advertising  materials and  any other
    selling expenses)  as  is  common for  mutual  funds.  Total  organizational
    expenses  will be amortized  over a five  year period. See  "WHAT ARE NORMAL
    TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?" in  Part B of this  Prospectus and "Statement  of
    Condition."  Historically, the sponsors of  unit investment trusts have paid
    all the costs of establishing such trusts.
 
                                     2 of 7
<PAGE>
                             INTEREST DISTRIBUTION
 
    Details of interest distributions  per Unit of the  Trust under the  various
plans  appear in  the following table  based upon estimated  Net Annual Interest
Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          NORMAL
                                                                                                      DISTRIBUTIONS
                                                  1996                             1997                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .3020(1)                                                  $  5.4384
                                                          --------  $.4530 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .3020(1)   $  1.3671(2)   $  1.3671      $  1.3671        $  5.4704
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .3020(1)   $  1.3716(3)                  $  2.7432        $  5.4894
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
 * Record Dates for  semi-annual distributions  are May  1 and  November 1;  for
   quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.
   Record  Dates  for monthly  distributions are  the first  day of  each month.
   Distribution Dates under each distribution plan are the fifteenth day of  the
   month   in  which  the  respective   Record  Date  occurred.  For  additional
   information see "WHEN ARE  DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?"  in Part B  of
   this Prospectus.
 
(1) The  first distribution will  be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of the
    distribution plan selected.  Such distribution may  be more or  less than  a
    regular monthly distribution.
 
(2) Regular 3-month distribution.
 
   
(3) The second distribution under the semi-annual distribution plan represents a
    3-month  distribution; subsequent semi-annual  distributions will be regular
    6-month distributions.
    
 
                               OHIO RISK FACTORS
 
    The financial  condition  of  the  State of  Ohio  is  affected  by  various
national,   economic,   social  and   environmental  policies   and  conditions.
Additionally, Constitutional and statutory limitations imposed on the State  and
its  local governments concerning taxes, bond indebtedness and other matters may
constrain the revenue-generating capacity of the State and its local governments
and, therefore,  the  ability of  the  issuers of  the  Bonds to  satisfy  their
obligations.  The  State operates  on the  basis  of a  fiscal biennium  for its
appropriations and expenditures, and is precluded by law from ending its  fiscal
year or fiscal biennium in a deficit position.
 
    The  economic vitality of the State  and its various regions and, therefore,
the ability of the  State and its  local governments to  satisfy the Bonds,  are
affected by numerous factors. While diversifying more into the service and other
non-manufacturing  areas, the Ohio economy continues  to rely in part on durable
goods manufacturing,  largely  concentrated  in motor  vehicles  and  equipment,
steel,  rubber products and household appliances.  As a result, general economic
activity, as  in many  other  industrially-developed states,  tends to  be  more
cyclical  than in some other states and in the nation as a whole. Agriculture is
an important segment of the economy, with over half the State's area devoted  to
farming and approximately 15% of total employment in agribusiness.
 
    The State is a party to numerous lawsuits in which an adverse final decision
could  materially affect the State  governmental operations and consequently its
ability to pay debt service on its obligations.
 
    Further information  concerning  State risk  factors  may be  obtained  upon
written  or telephonic request to the Trustee as described in "OTHER INFORMATION
- -- Supplemental Information" appearing in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
                                   TAX STATUS
 
    For a discussion of the Federal tax status of income earned on Trust  Units,
see "WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    The  Trust is comprised primarily  of interest-bearing obligations issued by
or on behalf of the State  of Ohio, political subdivisions thereof, or  agencies
or  instrumentalities thereof (the "Ohio Obligations"), or by the governments of
Puerto  Rico,  the  Virgin  Islands,  the  Northern  Mariana  Islands  or   Guam
(collectively, "Obligations").
 
    In  the opinion of  Squire, Sanders &  Dempsey, special Ohio  counsel to the
Trust, provided that at  all times at  least fifty percent of  the value of  the
total assets of the Trust consist of Ohio Obligations, or similar obligations of
other states or their subdivisions, under existing Ohio law:
 
        The  Trust is not taxable as a  corporation or otherwise for purposes of
    the Ohio personal income  tax, Ohio school district  income taxes, the  Ohio
    corporation franchise tax, or the Ohio dealers in intangibles tax.
 
        Income of the Trust will be treated as the income of the Unitholders for
    purposes  of the Ohio personal income  tax and municipal and school district
    income taxes in Ohio and the Ohio corporation franchise tax in proportion to
    the respective interest therein of each Unitholder.
 
                                     3 of 7
<PAGE>
        Interest on  Obligations held  by  the Trust  is  exempt from  the  Ohio
    personal income tax, and municipal and school district income taxes in Ohio,
    and  is excluded from the net income  base of the Ohio corporation franchise
    tax when distributed or deemed distributed to Unitholders.
 
        Proceeds paid under insurance  policies, if any, to  the Trustee of  the
    Trust  representing maturing interest  on defaulted obligations  held by the
    Trust that is  excluded from gross  income for federal  income tax  purposes
    will  be exempt from the  Ohio personal income tax  and municipal and school
    district income  taxes  in  Ohio  and  the  net  income  base  of  the  Ohio
    corporation franchise tax.
 
        Gains  and losses realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition by
    the Trust of Ohio Obligations are excluded in determining adjusted gross and
    taxable income for purposes of the  Ohio personal income tax, and  municipal
    and  school district  income taxes  in Ohio, and  are excluded  from the net
    income base of the Ohio corporation franchise tax when distributed or deemed
    distributed to Unitholders.
 
                                     4 of 7
<PAGE>
   
                         NUVEEN OHIO INSURED TRUST 135
                    (NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST SERIES 875)
         SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's        Price
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      State of Ohio, Ohio Air Quality Development         2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       503,970
                   Authority, Air Quality Development Revenue
                   Refunding Bonds, 1995 Series (The Dayton
                   Power and Light Company Project), 6.10% Due
                   9/1/30.
    500,000      State of Ohio, Turnpike Revenue Bonds, 1996         2006 at 102        AAA         Aaa             468,820
                   Series A, Issued by the Ohio Turnpike
                   Commission, 5.50% Due 2/15/26. (Original
                   issue discount bonds delivered on or about
                   June 20, 1996 at a price of 93.50% of
                   principal amount.)
    500,000      Ohio Water Development Authority, State of          2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             496,705
                   Ohio, Water Development Revenue Bonds, 1995
                   Fresh Water Series, 5.90% Due 12/1/21.
    500,000      County of Cuyahoga, Ohio, Hospital Improvement      2006 at 102        AAA         Aaa             474,205
                   and Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 1996A
                   (University Hospitals Health System, Inc.
                   Project), 5.625% Due 1/15/26.
    500,000      County of Mahoning, Ohio, Hospital Improvement      2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             465,670
                   Revenue Bonds, Series 1995 (Western Reserve
                   Care System Project), 5.50% Due 10/15/25.
    500,000      Sylvania City School District, Ohio, General        2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             486,730
                   Obligation School Improvement Bonds, Series
                   1995, 5.75% Due 12/1/22.
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2006 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             462,225
                   Bonds of 1996 (General Obligation Bonds.),
                   5.40% Due 7/1/25.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,358,325
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
    (1) The Sponsor's contracts to purchase  Bonds were entered into during  the
period  from July 8, 1996 to July 9, 1996. Other information regarding the Bonds
in the Trust on the Date of Deposit is as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        ANNUAL
                                                           PROFIT      INTEREST
                                              COST TO     (OR LOSS)    INCOME TO    BID PRICE
                   TRUST                      SPONSOR    TO SPONSOR      TRUST      OF BONDS
  ----------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  <S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
  OHIO INSURED TRUST 135..................  $ 3,315,719  $   42,606   $  198,875   $ 3,340,825
</TABLE>
    
 
   
In addition,  the difference  between the  Trustee's determination  of  Offering
Price  and Bid Price (as a percentage of principal amount) is .50%. Neither cost
to Sponsor nor  profit (or  loss) to  Sponsor reflects  underwriting profits  or
losses  received  or  incurred  by  the  Sponsor  through  its  participation in
underwriting syndicates.  The Sponsor  did not  participate as  either the  sole
underwriter  or as a manager or member of a syndicate that acted as the original
underwriter of any of the Bonds.
    
 
    (2) The Bonds are first subject to optional redemption in the years, and  at
the  prices,  shown. Unless  otherwise indicated,  the  Bonds, except  for Bonds
issued at a  substantial original  issue discount, are  redeemable at  declining
prices  (but not below  par value) in subsequent  years. Original issue discount
bonds, including zero coupon bonds, are generally redeemable at prices based  on
the  issue  price  plus  the  amount  of  original  issue  discount  accreted to
redemption plus, if applicable, some premium,  the amount of which will  decline
in  subsequent years. The Bonds  may also be subject  to sinking fund redemption
without premium  prior to  the dates  shown.  Certain Bonds  may be  subject  to
redemption  without  premium prior  to  the date  shown  pursuant to  special or
mandatory call provisions specified in  the instruments setting forth the  terms
and  provisions of  such Bonds.  See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS", "WHAT  IS THE TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" and "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    (3) All the  Bonds in the  Insured Trusts,  as insured by  the Insurer,  are
rated  AAA by Standard  & Poor's and Aaa  by Moody's. In  addition, Units of the
Trust are rated "AAA" by  Standard & Poor's as a  result of such insurance.  The
"AAA" rating on the Units will be in effect for a period of thirteen months from
the  Date  of Deposit  and will,  unless renewed,  terminate at  the end  of the
period. The insurance obtained by the  Trust guarantees the payment of  interest
and  principal on  the Bonds when  due but  does not cover  certain market risks
associated with fixed income securities  such as accelerated payments,  premiums
payable  on mandatory redemptions or interest rate  risks. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE
THE BONDS INSURED?" in Part B of this Prospectus and "Description of Ratings" in
the Information Supplement.)
 
                                     5 of 7
<PAGE>
                             Statement of Condition
 
   
                         NUVEEN OHIO INSURED TRUST 135
    
 
   
                    (Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875)
    
 
   
                              AS OF JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
    TRUST PROPERTY
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-Free Bonds,
  backed by an irrevocable letter of
  credit(1)(2)....................................  $    3,358,325
Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on underlying
  Bonds(1)........................................          39,215
Organizational costs(3)...........................           5,400
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,402,940
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
   LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITIES:
    Accrued interest to July 11, 1996 on
     underlying Bonds(4)..........................  $       39,215
    Accrued organizational costs(3)...............           5,400
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $       44,615
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided interest
     outstanding (35,000)
      Cost to investors(5)........................  $    3,531,346
        Less: Gross underwriting commission(6)....        (173,021)
                                                    --------------
    Net amount applicable to investors............  $    3,358,325
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    3,402,940
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
(1) Represented by contracts  to purchase Tax-Exempt  Bonds which include  "when
    issued"  or  "regular  way" or  "delayed  delivery" contracts  for  which an
    irrevocable letter of  credit issued  by a  major commercial  bank has  been
    deposited with the Trustee on the Date of Deposit. The amount of such letter
    of  credit  and any  cash  deposited exceeds  the  amount necessary  for the
    purchase of the Bonds plus accrued interest  to the Date of Deposit. At  the
    Date  of Deposit, Bonds may  have been delivered to  the Sponsor pursuant to
    certain of these contracts; the Sponsor  has assigned to the Trustee all  of
    its rights, title and interest in and to such Bonds.
 
(2) Aggregate  value (at offering prices) as of the Date of Deposit of the Bonds
    listed under "Schedule of Investments"  herein, and their aggregate cost  to
    the  Trust are the same.  Such offering prices were  determined by Kenny S&P
    Evaluation Services, a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc., as of the close  of
    business on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See "HOW WAS THE
    PRICE  OF THE BONDS  DETERMINED AT THE DATE  OF DEPOSIT?" in  Part B of this
    Prospectus.) Insurance coverage providing for the timely payment, when  due,
    of  all principal of and interest on the  Bonds in an Insured Trust has been
    obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds. Such insurance does
    not guarantee the market value of the Bonds or the value of the Units.  Both
    the bid and the offering prices of the underlying Bonds and of the Units may
    include value attributable to such policies of insurance.
 
(3) The  Trust (and  therefore Unitholders)  will bear all  or a  portion of its
    estimated organizational costs  which will  be deferred  and amortized  over
    five years from the Date of Deposit.
 
(4) Representing,  as set forth in "WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?" in Part B of this
    Prospectus, advancement by  the Trustee of  an amount equal  to the  accrued
    Bond interest as of the Date of Deposit.
 
(5) Aggregate  Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed as
    set forth under "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B  of
    this Prospectus.
 
(6) The  gross underwriting commission of 4.90% of the Public Offering Price has
    been calculated on the assumption that the  Units sold are not subject to  a
    reduction  of sales  charge for  quantity purchases.  In single transactions
    involving 500 Units or more, the sales  charge is reduced. (See "HOW IS  THE
    PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
                                     6 of 7
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
TO  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF JOHN  NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED AND UNITHOLDERS OF
OHIO INSURED TRUST 135:
    
 
   
    We have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the schedule  of
investments  at date of deposit (included in  Part A of this Prospectus) of Ohio
Insured Trust 135 (contained in Nuveen  Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875), as  of
July 11, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Sponsor.
Our  responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on our audit.
    
 
    We conducted  our  audit  in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of the irrevocable letter of credit arrangement for the purchase of
securities,   described  in  Note   (1)  to  the   statement  of  condition,  by
correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used  and significant  estimates  made by  the  Sponsor, as  well  as
evaluating  the overall  financial statement  presentation. We  believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
    In our opinion, the statement of  condition and the schedule of  investments
at  date of deposit referred to above  present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial  position of  Ohio  Insured Trust  135 as  of  July 11,  1996,  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
    
 
                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
Chicago, Illinois,
July 11, 1996.
    
 
                                     7 of 7
<PAGE>


<PAGE>
 
                                           B
 
NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
             PROSPECTUS -- PART B
            (GENERAL TERMS)
              SEPTEMBER 1, 1995
 
THIS PART B OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY  PART
A. BOTH PARTS OF THIS PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
FURTHER  DETAIL REGARDING CERTAIN OF THE  INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE PROSPECTUS
MAY BE OBTAINED WITHIN  FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF  WRITTEN OR TELEPHONIC REQUEST  TO
THE TRUSTEE AT 770 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10003 OR (800) 257-8787.
 
INTEREST  INCOME TO A TRUST AND TO UNITHOLDERS, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL, UNDER
EXISTING LAW  IS EXEMPT  FROM FEDERAL  INCOME TAX.  CAPITAL GAINS,  IF ANY,  ARE
SUBJECT  TO TAX. IN ADDITION, INTEREST INCOME OF STATE TRUSTS IS, IN THE OPINION
OF COUNSEL,  EXEMPT,  TO THE  EXTENT  INDICATED,  FROM STATE  AND  LOCAL  TAXES.
INTEREST  INCOME OF ANY TRUST  OTHER THAN A STATE TRUST  MAY BE SUBJECT TO STATE
AND LOCAL TAXES.
 
CURRENTLY OFFERED AT PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE PLUS INTEREST ACCRUED TO THE DATE  OF
SETTLEMENT. MINIMUM PURCHASE-- EITHER $5,000 OR 50 UNITS, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
 
THIS  NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT  UNIT TRUST SERIES  consists of  the underlying separate
unit investment  trust  set forth  in  Part A  to  this Prospectus.  Each  Trust
initially  consists  of delivery  statements relating  to contracts  to purchase
Bonds and, thereafter, will  consist of a  diversified portfolio of  obligations
issued  by  or on  behalf of  states and  territories of  the United  States and
authorities and political  subdivisions thereof (see  "Schedule of  Investments"
appearing  in Part A of this Prospectus).  Except in specific instances as noted
in Part A of  this Prospectus, the  information contained in  this Part B  shall
apply  to each Trust in its entirety.  All obligations in each Traditional Trust
are rated in the category "A" or better by Standard & Poor's, a division of  the
McGraw  Hill Companies ("Standard & Poor's")  or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
("Moody's") on the Date  of Deposit. All obligations  in each Insured Trust  are
covered  by policies of  insurance obtained from  the MBIA Insurance Corporation
guaranteeing payment of principal  and interest when due.  All such policies  of
insurance  remain effective  so long  as the  obligations are  outstanding. As a
result of such insurance, the Bonds in each portfolio of the Insured Trusts have
received a rating of "Aaa"  by Moody's and the Bonds  in the Insured Trusts  and
the  Units of  each such  Trust have received  a rating  of "AAA"  by Standard &
Poor's. INSURANCE RELATES ONLY TO THE BONDS IN THE INSURED TRUSTS AND NOT TO THE
UNITS OFFERED HEREBY OR TO THEIR MARKET  VALUE. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE THE  BONDS
INSURED?".)
 
THE  OBJECTIVES of  a Trust  are tax-exempt  income and  conservation of capital
through a diversified investment  in tax-exempt Bonds.  The payment of  interest
and  the preservation of principal are, of course, dependent upon the continuing
ability of  the issuers  of  Bonds and  of any  insurer  thereof to  meet  their
obligations  thereunder. There is no guarantee that a Trust's objectives will be
achieved. (See "RISK FACTORS".)
 
DISTRIBUTIONS of interest received by a Trust will be made semi-annually  unless
the  Unitholder  elects to  receive them  monthly or  quarterly. (See  "WHEN ARE
DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO  UNITHOLDERS?".) Distribution  of funds  in the  Principal
Account, if any, will ordinarily be made semi-annually.
 
FOR  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS to Unitholders in
each Trust on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See Part A of this
Prospectus and  "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED  LONG  TERM RETURN  AND  ESTIMATED  CURRENT
RETURN?".)
 
THE  PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE  per Unit of  each Trust during  the initial offering
period is equal to a pro rata share of the OFFERING prices of the Bonds in  such
Trust's  portfolio plus  a sales charge  of up  to 4.90% of  the Public Offering
Price (equivalent to  5.152% of the  net amount invested);  the sales charge  is
somewhat lower on Trusts with lesser average maturities. (See "HOW IS THE PUBLIC
OFFERING  PRICE DETERMINED?".)  The Secondary  Market Public  Offering Price per
Unit for each Trust will be equal to a  pro rata share of the sum of BID  prices
of the Bonds in such Trust plus the sales charges determined based on the number
of  years remaining  to the  maturity of  each Bond.  Accrued interest  from the
preceding Record Date to, but not including, the settlement date (normally three
business days after purchase) is added  to the Public Offering Price. The  sales
charge  is reduced on a graduated scale  for sales involving at least $50,000 or
500 Units  and will  be applied  on whichever  basis is  more favorable  to  the
purchaser. (See "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?".)
 
A  UNITHOLDER MAY REDEEM UNITS at the office of the Trustee at prices based upon
the BID prices of the Bonds. The  price received upon redemption may be more  or
less  than the amount paid by Unitholders, depending upon the value of the Bonds
on the date of tender  for redemption. (See "HOW  UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED  WITHOUT
CHARGE?".)  The  Sponsor, although  not required  to  do so,  intends to  make a
secondary market for the Units of the Trusts at prices based upon the BID prices
of the Bonds  in the respective  Trusts. (See "MARKET  FOR UNITS".) RETAIN  BOTH
PART A AND PART B OF THIS PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
 
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS. An investment in a Trust  should be made with an understanding  of
the risks associated therewith, including, among other factors, the inability of
the issuer or an insurer to pay the principal of or interest on a bond when due,
volatile interest rates, early call provisions, and changes to the tax status of
the Bonds. See Part A of this Prospectus and "RISK FACTORS."
 
UNITS OF THE TRUST ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER AGENCY AND
INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISK, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
 
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE  SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
  NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      INDEX                                                             PAGE
<C>   <S>                                              <C>        <C>
      WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST?                            3
      WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?                               3
      SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS                                                3
      RISK FACTORS                                                         4
      COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS                                                6
      WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?                                   7
      HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?                         8
      MARKET FOR UNITS                                                    11
      WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?                                           11
      WHAT ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED
      CURRENT RETURN?                                                     12
      HOW WAS THE PRICE OF THE BONDS DETERMINED AT THE
      DATE
      OF DEPOSIT?                                                         12
      WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?                              13
      WHAT ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?                           14
      WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?                         15
      ACCUMULATION PLAN                                                   16
      HOW DETAILED ARE REPORTS TO UNITHOLDERS?                            17
      UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION                                           17
      HOW UNITS OF THE TRUSTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE
      PUBLIC                                                              17
      OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS                                     19
      HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE                            19
      HOW UNITS MAY BE PURCHASED BY THE SPONSOR                           20
      HOW BONDS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUSTS                            20
      INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUSTEE                                       21
      INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR                                       22
      OTHER INFORMATION                                                   22
</TABLE>
 
                  2
<PAGE>
WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST?
 
This Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit  Trust is one  of a series  of separate but  similar
investment  companies created by the  Sponsor, each of which  is designated by a
different Series number. The underlying unit investment trusts contained in this
Series  are  combined  under  one   Trust  Indenture  and  Agreement.   Specific
information  regarding this Trust is set forth in Part A of this Prospectus. The
various Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts are collectively referred to herein as the
"Trusts"; the trusts in which few or none of the Bonds are insured are sometimes
referred to as the "Traditional  Trusts", the trusts in  which all of the  Bonds
are  insured  as described  herein  are sometimes  referred  to as  the "Insured
Trusts", and  the state  trusts  (both Traditional  and Insured)  are  sometimes
referred to as the "State Trusts." This Series was created under the laws of the
State  of New York pursuant to a Trust Indenture and Agreement dated the Date of
Deposit (the "Indenture") between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated (the "Sponsor")
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. (the "Trustee").
 
    The Sponsor has deposited with  the Trustee delivery statements relating  to
contracts  for the  purchase of municipal  debt obligations  together with funds
represented by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a major commercial bank
in the amount, including accrued interest,  required for their purchase (or  the
obligations  themselves) (the "Bonds"). See "Schedule  of Investments" in Part A
of this Prospectus, for  a description of the  Securities deposited in a  Trust.
See  "SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS" and "RISK FACTORS"  for a discussion of zero coupon
bonds and  stripped obligations  included in  the Trusts,  if any.  Some of  the
delivery statements may relate to contracts for the purchase of "when issued" or
other Bonds with delivery dates after the date of settlement for a purchase made
on  the Date  of Deposit. See  the "Schedule of  Investments" in Part  A of this
Prospectus and  "COMPOSITION  OF TRUSTS".  For  a discussion  of  the  Sponsor's
obligations in the event of a failure of any contract for the purchase of any of
the  Bonds and its limited right to substitute other bonds to replace any failed
contract, see "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS."
 
    Payment of interest on the Bonds in each Insured Trust, and of principal  at
maturity,  is guaranteed under policies of  insurance obtained by the Sponsor or
by the issuers of the  Bonds. (See "WHY AND HOW  ARE THE BONDS INSURED?".) AS  A
GENERAL  MATTER, NEITHER THE ISSUER NOR  THE SPONSOR HAS OBTAINED INSURANCE WITH
RESPECT TO THE BONDS IN ANY TRADITIONAL TRUST.
 
    The Trustee has delivered  to the Sponsor  registered Units which  represent
ownership  of  the  entire  Trust,  and  which  are  offered  for  sale  by this
Prospectus. Each Unit of a Trust  represents a fractional undivided interest  in
the  principal and net income of such Trust in the ratio set forth in "Essential
Information" in Part A of this Prospectus.  Units may only be sold in states  in
which  they  are registered.  To  the extent  that any  Units  of any  Trust are
redeemed by the Trustee, the aggregate value of the Trust's assets will decrease
by the amount  paid to the  redeeming Unitholder, but  the fractional  undivided
interest  of each unredeemed  Unit in such  Trust will increase proportionately.
The Sponsor will  initially, and  from time to  time thereafter,  hold Units  in
connection with their offering.
 
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?
 
The  objectives of the Trusts are income  exempt from Federal income tax and, in
the case of State Trusts, where applicable, state income and intangibles  taxes,
and  conservation of capital, through an  investment in obligations issued by or
on behalf of  states and territories  of the United  States and authorities  and
political  subdivisions thereof,  the interest  on which  is, in  the opinion of
recognized bond counsel  to the  issuing governmental  authorities, exempt  from
Federal  income  tax  under  existing  law  and  certain  state  income  tax and
intangibles taxes, if any, for purchasers who qualify as residents of that State
in which Bonds are issued. Insurance guaranteeing the timely payment, when  due,
of  all  principal and  interest on  the Bonds  in each  Insured Trust  has been
obtained by the  Sponsor or by  the issuers  of such Bonds  from MBIA  Insurance
Corporation,  and as a result  of such insurance the  obligations in the Insured
Trusts are rated "Aaa" by Moody's and "AAA" by Standard & Poor's. (See "WHY  AND
HOW  ARE THE  BONDS INSURED?".)  All obligations  in each  Traditional Trust are
rated in the category  "A" or better  (SP-1 or MIG  2 or better  in the case  of
short term obligations included in a Short Term Traditional Trust) by Standard &
Poor's  or Moody's (including provisional  or conditional ratings). In addition,
certain Bonds  in  certain  Traditional  Trusts  may  be  covered  by  insurance
guaranteeing  the timely payment, when due, of all principal and interest. There
is, of course, no guarantee that the Trusts' objectives will be achieved. For  a
comparison  of net  after-tax return for  various tax brackets  see the "TAXABLE
EQUIVALENT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN  TABLES" included in  the Appendices to  the
Information Supplement of this Prospectus.
 
SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS
 
In  selecting  Bonds for  the respective  Trusts,  the following  factors, among
others, were considered:  (i) the Standard  & Poor's Corporation  rating of  the
Bonds  or the Moody's Investors Service, Inc. rating of the Bonds (see "WHAT ARE
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?" for  a description of minimum rating  standards),
(ii)  the prices of the Bonds relative  to other bonds of comparable quality and
maturity, (iii) the diversification of Bonds as to purpose of issue and location
of issuer, (iv)  the maturity dates  of the Bonds,  and (v) in  the case of  the
Insured Trusts only, the availability of MBIA Insurance Corporation insurance on
such Bonds. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?".)
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
 
    An  investment in Units of any Trust should be made with an understanding of
the risks that such an investment may entail. Each Trust consists of  fixed-rate
municipal  debt  obligations. As  such, the  value of  the debt  obligations and
therefore of  the  Units will  decline  with  increases in  interest  rates.  In
general,  the longer the period until the maturity of a Bond, the more sensitive
its value will be to fluctuations in interest rates. The Sponsor cannot  predict
the  extent or timing  of such fluctuations and,  accordingly, their effect upon
the value of the debt obligations.  Additional risk factors include the  ability
of  the issuer, or, if applicable, an  insurer, to make payments of interest and
principal when  due, "mandatory  put" features,  early call  provisions and  the
potential  for changes in the tax status of the Bonds. As set forth in Part A of
this Prospectus, the Trusts may contain or be concentrated in one or more of the
types of bonds discussed below. The following paragraphs briefly discuss certain
circumstances which may adversely affect the ability of issuers of Bonds held in
the portfolio of a Trust to make payment of principal and interest thereon,  and
which  also  therefore may  adversely  affect the  ratings  of such  Bonds. With
respect to Insured  Trusts, however, because  of the insurance  obtained by  the
Sponsor or by the issuers of the Bonds, such changes should not adversely affect
an  Insured Trust's receipt of principal and interest, the Standard & Poor's AAA
or Moody's Aaa  ratings of  the Bonds  in the  Insured Trust  portfolio, or  the
Standard  & Poor's AAA rating of the Units of each such Insured Trust. The Bonds
described  below  may  be  subject   to  special  or  extraordinary   redemption
provisions.  For economic risks specific to the individual Trusts, see Part A of
this Prospectus  and  the  Appendices  to the  Information  Supplement  of  this
Prospectus.
 
    HEALTH  FACILITY OBLIGATIONS are  obligations of issuers  whose revenues are
derived from services  provided by  hospitals or other  health care  facilities,
including  nursing  homes. The  ability  of such  issuers  to make  debt service
payments on  these  obligations  is  dependent  on  various  factors,  including
occupancy  levels  of the  facility, demand  for  services, wages  of employees,
overhead  expenses,  competition  from   other  similar  providers,   government
regulation,  the cost of  malpractice insurance, and  the degree of governmental
financial assistance, including Medicare and Medicaid.
 
    HOUSING OBLIGATIONS are obligations of issuers whose revenues are  primarily
derived  from mortgage loans on single family residences or housing projects for
low to moderate income families. Housing obligations are generally prepayable at
any time and  therefore their average  life will ordinarily  be less than  their
stated  maturities. The ability of such issuers to make debt service payments on
these obligations is dependent on  various factors, including occupancy  levels,
rental  income, mortgage default rates,  taxes, operating expenses, governmental
regulations and the appropriation of subsidies.
 
    INDUSTRIAL  REVENUE  OBLIGATIONS  are  industrial  revenue  bonds  ("IRBs"),
including  pollution  control  revenue bonds,  which  are  tax-exempt securities
issued by  states, municipalities,  public authorities  or similar  entities  to
finance  the  cost of  acquiring, constructing  or improving  various industrial
projects. Debt  service  payment on  IRBs  is dependent  upon  various  factors,
including  the creditworthiness of the corporate operator of the project and, if
applicable, corporate guarantor, revenues  generated from the project,  expenses
associated with the project and regulatory and environmental restrictions.
 
    ELECTRIC  UTILITY OBLIGATIONS are obligations  of issuers whose revenues are
primarily derived from the sale of electric energy. The ability of such  issuers
to  make  debt service  payments on  these obligations  is dependent  on various
factors, including the rates  for electricity, the  demand for electricity,  the
degree  of competition, governmental regulation,  overhead expenses and variable
costs, such as fuel.
 
    TRANSPORTATION FACILITY REVENUE OBLIGATIONS are obligations of issuers which
are payable  from  and  secured  by revenues  derived  from  the  ownership  and
operation  of airports, public transit systems and ports. The ability of issuers
to make  debt  service payments  on  airport  obligations is  dependent  on  the
capability  of airlines to  meet their obligations under  use agreements. Due to
increased competition,  deregulation, increased  fuel costs  and other  factors,
many  airlines may  have difficulty  meeting their  obligations under  these use
agreements. Bonds  that are  secured primarily  by the  revenue collected  by  a
public  transit system typically  are additionally secured by  a pledge of sales
tax receipts collected  at the state  or local level,  or of other  governmental
financial  assistance. The revenue of issuers of transit system obligations will
be affected by variations in utilization, which  in turn may be affected by  the
degree  of  local governmental  subsidization, competition  from other  forms of
transportation, and  increased costs.  Port  authorities derive  their  revenues
primarily  from fees imposed  on ships using the  facilities which may fluctuate
depending on  the local  economy  and on  competition  from competing  forms  of
transportation  such  as air,  rail and  trucks. The  revenues of  issuers which
derive their  payments  from bridge,  road  or  tunnel toll  revenues  could  be
adversely  affected  by  increases  in fuel  costs,  competition  from toll-free
vehicular bridges and roads and alternative modes of transportation.
 
    WATER AND/OR SEWERAGE OBLIGATIONS are obligations of issuers whose  revenues
are  payable from user fees from the sale of water and/or sewerage services. The
problems   of   such    issuers   include   the    ability   to   obtain    rate
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
increases,  population  declines, the  limitations  on operations  and increased
costs and delays attributable to environmental considerations, the  difficulties
obtaining  new supplies of fresh water,  the effect of conservation programs and
in "no-growth" zoning ordinances.
 
    UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE REVENUE OBLIGATIONS are obligations of issuers  whose
revenues  are  derived  mainly  from  tuition,  dormitory  revenues,  grants and
endowments. General  problems faced  by  such issuers  include declines  in  the
number  of "college" age  individuals, possible inability  to raise tuitions and
fees, the uncertainty of continued receipt of Federal grants and state  funding,
and  government  legislation  or  regulations  which  may  adversely  affect the
revenues or costs of such issuers.
 
    DEDICATED-TAX SUPPORTED  OBLIGATIONS are  obligations of  issuers which  are
payable  from  and  secured by  tax  revenues  from a  designated  source, which
revenues are pledged to secure the  bonds. The various types of Bonds  described
below  differ in structure and with respect  to the rights of the bondholders to
the underlying property. Each type of dedicated-tax supported Bond has  distinct
risks,  only  some of  which  are set  forth  below. One  type  of dedicated-tax
supported Bond  is  secured by  the  incremental  tax received  on  either  real
property  or on sales within a  specifically defined geographical area; such tax
generally will not provide bondholders with a lien on the underlying property or
revenues. Another type of dedicated-tax supported  Bond is secured by a  special
tax  levied on real property within a defined geographical area in such a manner
that the  tax is  levied  on those  who benefit  from  the project;  such  bonds
typically  provide for  a statutory lien  on the underlying  property for unpaid
taxes. A third  type of dedicated-tax  supported Bond  may be secured  by a  tax
levied  upon the  manufacture, sale  or consumption  of commodities  or upon the
license to  pursue certain  occupations or  upon corporate  privileges within  a
taxing  jurisdiction. As  to any  of these  types of  Bonds, the  ability of the
designated revenues to satisfy the interest and principal payments on such bonds
may be affected by changes  in the local economy,  the financial success of  the
enterprise  responsible for the payment of the  taxes, the value of any property
on which taxes may be assessed and the ability to collect such taxes in a timely
fashion. Each of  these factors will  have a different  affect on each  distinct
type of dedicated-tax supported bonds.
 
    MUNICIPAL  LEASE  OBLIGATIONS  are  obligations that  are  secured  by lease
payments of a  governmental entity  and are  normally subject  to annual  budget
appropriations  of the leasing  governmental entity. A  governmental entity that
enters into  such  a  lease  agreement cannot  obligate  future  governments  to
appropriate  for and make lease payments but covenants to take such action as is
necessary to include  any lease  payments due  in its  budgets and  to make  the
appropriations  therefor. A governmental entity's failure to appropriate for and
to make payments under its lease  obligation could result in insufficient  funds
available for payment of the obligations secured thereby.
 
    ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT OBLIGATIONS AND STRIPPED OBLIGATIONS are bonds which
were  issued with  nominal interest  rates less than  the rates  then offered by
comparable securities and as  a consequence were originally  sold at a  discount
from  their face,  or par,  values. In a  stable interest  rate environment, the
market value of  an original  issue discount bond  would tend  to increase  more
slowly in early years and in greater increments as the bond approached maturity.
 
    Certain  of the original issue  discount obligations in a  Trust may be zero
coupon bonds. Zero coupon bonds  do not provide for  the payment of any  current
interest;  the buyer receives only  the right to receive  a final payment of the
face amount  of the  bond at  its maturity.  Zero coupon  bonds are  subject  to
substantially  greater  price  fluctuations during  periods  of  changing market
interest rates  than are  securities  of comparable  quality that  pay  interest
currently.
 
    Original  issue discount  obligations, including  zero coupon  bonds, may be
subject to redemption  at prices based  on the  issue price plus  the amount  of
original  issue discount accreted to redemption  (the "accreted value") plus, if
applicable, some premium. Pursuant  to such call  provisions, an original  issue
discount  bond may be called prior to its maturity date at a price less than its
face value.  See the  "Schedule of  Investments"  appearing in  Part A  of  this
Prospectus for more information about the call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
    Certain of the Bonds in a Trust may be stripped obligations, which represent
evidences  of ownership  with respect  to either  the principal  amount of  or a
payment of interest  on a tax-exempt  obligation ("Stripped Obligations").  Each
Stripped  Obligation has been purchased at a discount from the amount payable at
maturity. A Stripped Obligation  therefore has economic characteristics  similar
to zero coupon bonds, as described above.
 
    Unitholders  should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the state
and local tax consequences of owning  original issue discount bonds or  Stripped
Obligations.  Under applicable  provisions governing determination  of state and
local taxes,  interest  on  original  issue  discount  obligations  or  Stripped
Obligations  may be  deemed to be  received in  the year of  accrual even though
there is no corresponding cash payment.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
    Certain bonds may carry a "mandatory put" (also referred to as a  "mandatory
tender"  or "mandatory repurchase") feature pursuant to which the holder of such
bonds will receive payment of the full principal amount thereof on a stated date
prior to the maturity date unless  such holder affirmatively acts to retain  the
bond.  The Trustee does not have the authority  to act to retain Bonds with such
features; accordingly, it will receive payment  of the full principal amount  of
any  such Bonds on the stated put date and such date is therefore treated as the
maturity date of such Bonds in selecting Bonds for the respective Trusts and for
purposes of calculating the average maturity of the Bonds in any Trust.
 
COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS
 
Each Trust initially consists  of delivery statements  relating to contracts  to
purchase  Bonds (or of such Bonds) as are listed under "Schedule of Investments"
in Part A of this Prospectus and,  thereafter, of such Bonds as may continue  to
be  held from time to time (including  certain securities deposited in the Trust
in  substitution  for  Bonds  not  delivered  to  a  Trust  or  in  exchange  or
substitution  for  Bonds upon  certain  refundings), together  with  accrued and
undistributed  interest  thereon  and  undistributed  cash  realized  from   the
disposition of Bonds.
 
    "WHEN-ISSUED"  AND  "DELAYED  DELIVERY"  TRANSACTIONS.    The  contracts  to
purchase Bonds delivered to  the Trustee represent an  obligation by issuers  or
dealers  to deliver Bonds to  the Sponsor for deposit  in the Trusts. Certain of
the contracts relate  to Bonds  which have  not been issued  as of  the Date  of
Deposit  and which are commonly referred to as "when issued" or "when, as and if
issued" Bonds. Although  the Sponsor  believes it  unlikely, if  such Bonds,  or
replacement  bonds described  below, are  not acquired  by a  Trust or  if their
delivery is  delayed, the  Estimated  Current Returns  and Estimated  Long  Term
Returns  shown  in Part  A of  this Prospectus  may be  reduced. Certain  of the
contracts for the purchase of Bonds provide for delivery dates after the date of
settlement for purchases  made on the  Date of Deposit.  Interest on such  "when
issued"  and  "delayed delivery"  Bonds accrues  to  the benefit  of Unitholders
commencing with the first settlement date for the Units. However, in the opinion
of counsel, Unitholders who  purchase their Units prior  to the date such  Bonds
are  actually delivered to the Trustee must  reduce the tax basis of their Units
for interest accruing on such Bonds  during the interval between their  purchase
of  Units and the delivery of the Bonds because such amounts constitute a return
of principal. As a result of such adjustment, the Estimated Current Returns  set
forth in Part A of this Prospectus (which are based on the Public Offering Price
as  of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit) may be slightly lower than
Unitholders will receive after the first  year, assuming the Portfolio does  not
change  and estimated  annual expense  does not vary  from that  set forth under
"Essential Information" in Part A of this Prospectus. Those Bonds in each  Trust
purchased with delivery dates after the date of settlement for purchases made on
the  Date of Deposit are so noted in  the "Schedule of Investments" in Part A of
this Prospectus.
 
    LIMITED REPLACEMENT OF CERTAIN BONDS.   Neither the Sponsor nor the  Trustee
shall  be liable in any way  for any default, failure or  defect in any Bond. In
the event of a failure to deliver any  Bond that has been purchased for a  Trust
under  a contract, including those  Bonds purchased on a  when, as and if issued
basis ("Failed Bonds"), the Sponsor is authorized under the Indenture to  direct
the  Trustee to acquire  other specified Bonds ("Replacement  Bonds") to make up
the original corpus of the Trust within 20 days after delivery of notice of  the
failed  contract and the cost  to the Trust (exclusive  of accrued interest) may
not exceed the amount of  funds reserved for the  purchase of the Failed  Bonds.
The  Replacement Bonds  must satisfy the  criteria previously  described for the
Trusts and shall be substantially identical to the Failed Bonds they replace  in
terms  of (i) the exemption from federal  and state taxation; (ii) maturity and;
(iii) cost to the Trust. In addition,  Replacement Bonds shall not be "when,  as
and if issued" Bonds. Whenever a Replacement Bond has been acquired for a Trust,
the  Trustee shall, within five days after the delivery thereof, mail or deliver
a notice of such acquisition to all Unitholders of the Trust involved. Once  the
original corpus of the Trust is acquired, the Trustee will have no power to vary
the investment of the Trust.
 
    To  the extent Replacement Bonds are  not acquired, the Sponsor shall refund
to all Unitholders of the Trust  involved the sales charge attributable to  such
Failed  Bonds not replaced, and the  principal and accrued interest attributable
to such Bonds shall be distributed not more than 30 days after the determination
of such failure or at  such earlier time as the  Trustee in its sole  discretion
deems  to be in the interest of  the Unitholders. Any such accrued interest paid
to Unitholders will be paid by the Sponsor and, accordingly, will not be treated
as tax-exempt  income.  In the  event  Failed Bonds  in  a Trust  could  not  be
replaced,  the  Net Annual  Interest Income  per  Unit for  such Trust  would be
reduced and the Estimated Current Return thereon might be lowered.
 
    SALE, MATURITY AND REDEMPTION OF BONDS.  Certain of the Bonds may from  time
to  time  under certain  circumstances be  sold  or redeemed  or will  mature in
accordance with their terms. The proceeds from  such events will be used to  pay
for   Units  redeemed  or   distributed  to  Unitholders   and  not  reinvested;
accordingly, no assurance can be given that  a Trust will retain for any  length
of time its present size and composition.
 
    All  of the Bonds in  each Trust are subject to  being called or redeemed in
whole or  in part  prior to  their stated  maturities pursuant  to the  optional
redemption  provisions described in  the "Schedule of Investments"  in Part A of
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
this Prospectus  and  in  most  cases  pursuant  to  sinking  fund,  special  or
extraordinary  redemption provisions. See the discussion of the various types of
bond issues,  above, for  information  on the  call  provisions of  such  bonds,
particularly single family mortgage revenue bonds.
 
    The exercise of redemption or call provisions will (except to the extent the
proceeds of the called Bonds are used to pay for Unit redemptions) result in the
distribution  of  principal and  may  result in  a  reduction in  the  amount of
subsequent interest  distributions; it  may also  affect the  current return  on
Units  of the Trust involved.  The exercise of redemption  or call provisions is
more likely to occur in  situations where when the  Bonds have an offering  side
evaluation  which represents a premium  over par (as opposed  to a discount from
par). (In  the  case  of  original issue  discount  bonds,  such  redemption  is
generally  to  be made  at the  issue price  plus the  amount of  original issue
discount accreted to the date of redemption; such price is referred to herein as
"accreted value"). Because Bonds may have  been valued at prices above or  below
par  value or the then current accreted  value at the time Units were purchased,
Unitholders may realize  gain or loss  upon the redemption  of portfolio  Bonds.
(See  "WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF  UNITHOLDERS?" and "WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE
TO UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B and the  "Schedule of Investments" in Part A of  this
Prospectus.)
 
    CERTAIN  TAX  MATTERS;  LITIGATION.    Certain of  the  Bonds  in  a Trust's
portfolio may be subject  to continuing requirements such  as the actual use  of
bond proceeds, manner of operation of the project financed from bond proceeds or
rebate  of excess  earnings on  bond proceeds that  may affect  the exemption of
interest on such  Bonds from Federal  income taxation. Although  at the time  of
issuance  of each  of the  Bonds in each  Trust an  opinion of  bond counsel was
rendered as to the exemption of interest on such obligations from Federal income
taxation, and the issuers covenanted  to comply with all requirements  necessary
to retain the tax-exempt status of the Bonds, there can be no assurance that the
respective  issuers  or  other obligors  on  such obligations  will  fulfill the
various continuing  requirements  established  upon issuance  of  the  Bonds.  A
failure to comply with such requirements may cause a determination that interest
on  such  obligations  is  subject  to  Federal  income  taxation,  perhaps even
retroactively from the  date of  issuance of  such Bonds,  thereby reducing  the
value of the Bonds and subjecting Unitholders to unanticipated tax liabilities.
 
    To  the best knowledge of the Sponsor,  there is no litigation pending as of
the Date of Deposit in respect of  any Bonds which might reasonably be  expected
to  have a  material adverse effect  on any of  the Trusts. It  is possible that
after the Date of Deposit, litigation may be initiated with respect to Bonds  in
any  Trust. Any  such litigation may  affect the  validity of such  Bonds or the
tax-exempt nature of the interest thereon,  but while the outcome of  litigation
of  such nature can never be entirely predicted, the opinions of bond counsel to
the issuer of  each Bond  on the  date of issuance  state that  such Bonds  were
validly issued and that the interest thereon is, to the extent indicated, exempt
from Federal income tax.
 
WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?
 
Insurance  guaranteeing  the  timely payment,  when  due, of  all  principal and
interest on the Bonds in each Insured Trust has been obtained by the Sponsor  or
by  the issuers or underwriters of the Bonds from the MBIA Insurance Corporation
(the "Insurer"). Certain of the  Bonds in an Insured Trust  may be covered by  a
policy  or policies of insurance obtained by  the issuers or underwriters of the
Bonds from  Municipal Bond  Insurance Association  (the "Association")  or  Bond
Investors  Guaranty Insurance Company ("BIG"). The claims-paying ability of both
the Insurer  and the  Association was  rated  "AAA Prime  Grade" by  Standard  &
Poor's.  Moody's rates  all bond  issuers insured by  either the  Insurer or the
Association "Aaa" and  short-term loans "MIG  1," both designated  to be of  the
highest  quality.  The Insurer  has  issued a  policy  or policies  of insurance
covering each of the Bonds in the Insured Trusts, each policy to remain in force
until the payment in full of such Bonds and whether or not the Bonds continue to
be held  by an  Insured Trust.  By the  terms of  each policy  the Insurer  will
unconditionally  guarantee to  the holders or  owners of the  Bonds the payment,
when due,  required of  the  issuer of  the  Bonds of  an  amount equal  to  the
principal of and interest on the Bonds as such payments shall become due but not
be  paid  (except that  in the  event of  any  acceleration of  the due  date of
principal by reason of mandatory  or optional redemption, default or  otherwise,
the  payments guaranteed will be made in such amounts and at such times as would
have been due had there not been an acceleration).
 
    Insurance guaranteeing the timely  payment, when due,  of all principal  and
interest  on certain Bonds in a Traditional  Trust may have been obtained by the
Sponsor, issuer or underwriter  of the particular Bonds  involved or by  another
party.  Such insurance, which  provides coverage substantially  the same as that
obtained with  respect  to  Bonds  in Insured  Trusts  as  described  above,  is
effective  so long as the insured Bond is outstanding and the insurer remains in
business. Insurance relates  only to the  particular Bond and  not to the  Units
offered hereby or to their market value. Insured Bonds have received a rating of
"Aaa"  by  Moody's and/or  "AAA" by  Standard  & Poor's  in recognition  of such
insurance.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
    If a Bond in a Traditional  Trust is insured, the "Schedule of  Investments"
appearing in Part A of this Prospectus will identify the insurer. The Sponsor to
date  has purchased  and presently  intends to  purchase insurance  for Bonds in
Traditional Trusts exclusively from the Insurer. There can be no assurance  that
any  insurer listed therein will be able to satisfy its commitments in the event
claims are made in  the future. However, Standard  & Poor's and/or Moody's  have
rated the claims-paying ability of each insurer "AAA" or "Aaa," respectively.
 
    The  Insurer is the principal operating subsidiary of MBIA, Inc., a New York
Stock Exchange listed company. MBIA, Inc. is  not obligated to pay the debts  of
or  claims against the  Insurer. The Insurer is  a limited liability corporation
rather than a  several liability association.  The Insurer is  domiciled in  the
State  of New York and licensed to do business in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, the  Commonwealth of  Puerto Rico,  the Commonwealth  of the  Northern
Mariana  Islands, the Virgin Islands  of the United States  and the Territory of
Guam. The Insurer has one European branch in the Republic of France.
 
    As of  June  30,  1995 the  Insurer  had  admitted assets  of  $3.6  billion
(unaudited),  total liabilities of  $2.4 billion (unaudited),  and total capital
and surplus of $1.2 billion (unaudited) determined in accordance with  statutory
accounting   practices   prescribed   or  permitted   by   insurance  regulatory
authorities. As of December  31, 1994, the Insurer  had admitted assets of  $3.4
billion  (audited),  total  liabilities  of $2.3  billion  (audited),  and total
capital and  surplus of  $1.1 billion  (audited) determined  in accordance  with
statutory  accounting practices prescribed or  permitted by insurance regulatory
authorities.
 
    The Association is comprised  of the five insurance  companies set forth  in
the following table, which provides certain unaudited financial information with
respect to each of the five insurance companies comprising the Association.
 
                      MUNICIPAL BOND INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
      FIVE MEMBER COMPANIES ASSETS AND POLICYHOLDERS' SURPLUS (UNAUDITED)
                           AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1994.
                                (000'S OMITTED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               NEW YORK      NEW YORK       NEW YORK
                                                                              STATUTORY     STATUTORY    POLICYHOLDERS
                                                                                ASSETS     LIABILITIES      SURPLUS
                                                                             ------------  ------------  --------------
<S>                                                                          <C>           <C>           <C>
The AEtna Casualty & Surety Company........................................  $ 10,030,200  $  8,275,300  $   1,754,900
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company...........................................     6,815,775     4,904,534      1,911,241
The Travelers Indemnity Company............................................    10,295,359     8,515,392      1,779,967
CIGNA Property and Casualty Company (formerly AEtna Insurance Company).....     5,112,251     4,842,235        270,016
The Continental Insurance Company..........................................     2,794,536     2,449,805        344,731
                                                                             ------------  ------------  --------------
        Total..............................................................  $ 35,048,121  $ 28,987,266  $   6,060,855
                                                                             ------------  ------------  --------------
                                                                             ------------  ------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
    Insurance  companies  are subject  to  extensive regulation  and supervision
where they  do  business  by  state insurance  commissioners  who  regulate  the
standards of solvency which must be maintained, the nature of and limitations on
investments, reports of financial condition, and requirements regarding reserves
for  unearned premiums, losses  and other matters. A  significant portion of the
assets of insurance companies are required by law to be held in reserve  against
potential claims on policies and is not available to general creditors. Although
the  federal government  does not  regulate the  business of  insurance, federal
initiatives including  pension  regulation,  controls  on  medical  care  costs,
minimum  standards for no-fault automobile insurance, national health insurance,
tax law changes affecting life insurance  companies and repeal of the  antitrust
exemption  for  the insurance  business can  significantly impact  the insurance
business.
 
    The above ratings are  not recommendations to buy,  sell or hold the  Bonds,
and  such ratings may  be subject to revision  or withdrawal at  any time by the
rating agencies. Any downward revision or  withdrawal of either or both  ratings
may have an adverse effect on the market price of the Bonds. See the Information
Supplement--for further information concerning insurance.
 
    Because the insurance on the Bonds, if any, will be effective so long as the
Bonds  are outstanding, such insurance will be taken into account in determining
the market value  of the  Bonds and therefore  some value  attributable to  such
insurance  will be included in the value of the Units of the Insured Trusts. The
insurance does not, however, guarantee the market  value of the Bonds or of  the
Units.
 
HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?
 
The  Public Offering Price of the Units of  each Trust is equal to the Trustee's
determination of the aggregate  OFFERING prices of  the Bonds deposited  therein
(minus  any  advancement to  the  principal account  of  the Trust  made  by the
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
Trustee) plus a sales charge set forth  in "Essential Information" in Part A  of
this  Prospectus, in  each case  adding to  the total  thereof cash  held by the
Trust, if  any,  and  dividing the  sum  so  obtained by  the  number  of  Units
outstanding in the Trust. See "UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION."
 
    The  sales charge applicable to quantity purchases is reduced on a graduated
scale for sales to any  purchaser of at least $50,000  or 500 Units and will  be
applied  on whichever basis is more favorable  to the purchaser. For purposes of
calculating the applicable  sales charge,  purchasers who  have indicated  their
intent  to purchase a specified  amount of Units of any  Trust in the primary or
secondary offering period by executing and delivering a letter of intent to  the
Sponsor,  which letter of intent must be in a form acceptable to the Sponsor and
shall have a maximum duration of thirteen months, will be eligible to receive  a
reduced  sales charge according to  the following tables based  on the amount of
intended aggregate  purchases as  expressed  in the  letter  of intent.  Due  to
administrative  limitations and in  order to permit  adequate tracking, the only
secondary market  purchases that  will be  permitted to  be applied  toward  the
intended  specified amount and that will receive the corresponding reduced sales
charge are  those  Units that  are  acquired through  or  from the  Sponsor.  By
establishing  a letter of intent, a Unitholder agrees that the first purchase of
Units following the execution of  such letter of intent will  be at least 5%  of
the  total  amount  of  the  intended  aggregate  purchases  expressed  in  such
Unitholder's letter of intent. Further, through the establishment of the  letter
of intent, such Unitholder agrees that Units representing 5% of the total amount
of  the  intended  purchases will  be  held  in escrow  by  the  Trustee pending
completion of these purchases. All distributions on Units held in escrow will be
credited  to  such  Unitholder's  account.  If  total  purchases  prior  to  the
expiration  of the letter of intent period  equal or exceed the amount specified
in a Unitholder's letter of intent, the Units held in escrow will be transferred
to such Unitholder's account.  If the total purchases  are less than the  amount
specified,  the Unitholder involved must pay the  Sponsor an amount equal to the
difference between the amounts  paid for these purchases  and the amounts  which
would  have  been paid  if the  higher sales  charge had  been applied.  If such
Unitholder does  not pay  the additional  amount within  20 days  after  written
request  by  the  Sponsor  or the  Unitholder's  securities  representative, the
Sponsor will  instruct  the Trustee  to  redeem  an appropriate  number  of  the
escrowed Units to meet the required payment. By establishing a letter of intent,
a  Unitholder irrevocably appoints the Sponsor  as attorney to give instructions
to redeem any or  all of such  Unitholder's escrowed Units,  with full power  of
substitution in the premises. A Unitholder or his securities representative must
notify  the Sponsor whenever such  Unitholder makes a purchase  of Units that he
wishes to  be counted  towards the  intended amount.  Sales charges  during  the
primary offering period are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            NATIONAL AND STATE TRUSTS         LONG INTERMEDIATE TRUSTS        INTERMEDIATE
                                                                                                                 TRUSTS
                                          -----------------------------     -----------------------------     ------------
<S>                                       <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
                                            PERCENT          PERCENT          PERCENT          PERCENT          PERCENT
                                               OF             OF NET             OF             OF NET             OF
                                            OFFERING          AMOUNT          OFFERING          AMOUNT          OFFERING
            NUMBER OF UNITS*                 PRICE           INVESTED          PRICE           INVESTED          PRICE
- ----------------------------------------  ------------     ------------     ------------     ------------     ------------
Less than 500...........................         4.90 %           5.152%           4.25 %           4.439%           3.90%
500 but less than 1,000.................         4.75             4.987            4.15             4.330            3.70
1,000 but less than 2,500...............         4.50             4.712            3.85             4.004            3.50
2,500 but less than 5,000...............         4.25             4.439            3.60             3.734            3.25
5,000 but less than 10,000..............         3.50             3.627            3.35             3.466            3.00
10,000 but less than 25,000.............         3.00             3.093            3.00             3.093            2.75
25,000 but less than 50,000.............         2.50             2.564            2.50             2.564            2.50
50,000 or more..........................         2.00             2.041            2.00             2.041            2.00
 
<CAPTION>
 
<S>                                       <C>
                                            PERCENT
                                             OF NET
                                             AMOUNT
            NUMBER OF UNITS*                INVESTED
- ----------------------------------------  ------------
Less than 500...........................         4.058%
500 but less than 1,000.................         3.842
1,000 but less than 2,500...............         3.627
2,500 but less than 5,000...............         3.359
5,000 but less than 10,000..............         3.093
10,000 but less than 25,000.............         2.828
25,000 but less than 50,000.............         2.564
50,000 or more..........................         2.041
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            SHORT INTERMEDIATE TRUSTS
                                                                                  SHORT TERM TRUSTS
                                          -----------------------------     -----------------------------
<S>                                       <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
                                            PERCENT          PERCENT          PERCENT          PERCENT
                                               OF             OF NET             OF             OF NET
                                            OFFERING          AMOUNT          OFFERING          AMOUNT
            NUMBER OF UNITS*                 PRICE           INVESTED          PRICE           INVESTED
- ----------------------------------------  ------------     ------------     ------------     ------------
Less than 500...........................         3.00 %           3.093%           2.50 %           2.564%
500 but less than 1,000.................         2.80             2.881            2.30             2.354
1,000 but less than 2,500...............         2.60             2.670            2.10             2.145
2,500 but less than 5,000...............         2.35             2.407            1.85             1.885
5,000 but less than 10,000..............         2.10             2.145            1.60             1.626
10,000 but less than 25,000.............         1.85             1.885            1.35             1.368
25,000 but less than 50,000.............         1.80             1.833            1.25             1.266
50,000 or more..........................         1.50             1.523            1.15             1.163
</TABLE>
 
*Breakpoint  sales charges are computed both on  a dollar basis and on the basis
 of the number of Units purchased, using the equivalent of 500 Units to $50,000,
 2,500 Units to $250,000 etc., and will  be applied on that basis which is  more
 favorable to the purchaser.
 
    For  "secondary market"  sales the  Public Offering  Price per  Unit of each
Trust is determined by adding to the Trustee's determination of the BID price of
each Bond in the Trust  a sales charge determined  in accordance with the  table
set forth below based upon the number of years remaining to the maturity of each
such  Bond. See "UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION."  The effect of this method of sales
charge calculation will be that different sales charge
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
rates will be applied to the various  Bonds in a Trust portfolio based upon  the
maturities  of such Bonds. As shown, the  sales charge on Bonds in each maturity
range (and therefore the aggregate sales charge on the purchase) is reduced with
respect to purchases of at least $50,000 or 500 Units:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       AMOUNT OF PURCHASE*
                              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
                                            $50,000      $100,000     $250,000     $500,000    $1,000,000   $2,500,000
                                UNDER          TO           TO           TO           TO           TO           TO       $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY              $50,000      $99,999      $249,999     $499,999     $999,999    $2,499,999   $4,999,999    OR MORE
- ----------------------------------------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Less than 1...................         0           0            0            0            0            0            0            0
1 but less than 2.............     1.523 %     1.446 %      1.369 %      1.317 %      1.215 %      1.061 %       .900 %       .750 %
2 but less than 3.............     2.041       1.937        1.833        1.729        1.626        1.420        1.225        1.030
3 but less than 4.............     2.564       2.433        2.302        2.175        2.041        1.781        1.546        1.310
4 but less than 5.............     3.093       2.961        2.828        2.617        2.459        2.175        1.883        1.590
5 but less than 7.............     3.627       3.433        3.239        3.093        2.881        2.460        2.165        1.870
7 but less than 10............     4.167       3.951        3.734        3.520        3.239        2.828        2.489        2.150
10 but less than 13...........     4.712       4.467        4.221        4.004        3.788        3.253        2.842        2.430
13 but less than 16...........     5.263       4.988        4.712        4.439        4.167        3.627        3.169        2.710
16 or more....................     5.820       5.542        5.263        4.987        4.603        4.004        3.500        3.000
</TABLE>
 
 *Breakpoint sales charges are computed both on a dollar basis and on the  basis
  of  the  number of  Units  purchased, using  the  equivalent of  500  Units to
  $50,000, 2,500 Units  to $250,000,  etc., and will  be applied  on that  basis
  which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The  secondary market sales charges above are  expressed as a percent of the
net amount invested; expressed  as a percent of  the Public Offering Price,  the
maximum  sales charge on  any Trust, including one  consisting entirely of Bonds
with 16 years  or more to  maturity, would be  5.50% (5.820% of  the net  amount
invested).  The  actual secondary  market sales  charge  included in  the Public
Offering Price of  any particular  Trust will depend  on the  maturities of  the
Bonds in the portfolio of such Trust.
 
    Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Trustee may terminate a Trust if
the  net asset value of such Trust, as shown by any evaluation, is less than 20%
of the original principal amount of the Trust.
 
    At all  times while  Units are  being  offered for  sale, the  Sponsor  will
appraise  or cause to  be appraised daily  the value of  the underlying Bonds in
each Trust as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each day on which the New York  Stock
Exchange  (the "Exchange") is normally open  and will adjust the Public Offering
Price of the Units commensurate with such appraisal. Such Public Offering  Price
will be effective for all orders received by a dealer or the Sponsor at or prior
to  4:00 p.m. eastern time on each such day. Orders received after that time, or
on a day when the Exchange is closed for a scheduled holiday or weekend, will be
held until the next determination of price.
 
    Accrued interest from the preceding Record  Date to, but not including,  the
settlement  date of the transaction (three business days after purchase) will be
added to the Public Offering Price to determine the purchase price of Units. See
"WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?".
 
    The graduated sales  charges set forth  above will apply  on all  applicable
purchases  of Nuveen investment  company securities on  any one day  by the same
purchaser in the amounts stated, and  for this purpose purchases of this  Series
will be aggregated with concurrent purchases of any other Series or of shares of
any  open-end management  investment company of  which the  Sponsor is principal
underwriter and with respect to the purchase of which a sales charge is imposed.
Purchases by or  for the  account of  an individual and  his or  her spouse  and
children  under 21 years of age  ("immediate family members") will be aggregated
to determine the applicable sales charge.  The graduated sales charges are  also
applicable  to a trustee  or other fiduciary purchasing  securities for a single
trust estate or single fiduciary account.  Units may be purchased at the  Public
Offering Price without a sales charge by officers or directors and by bona fide,
full-time  employees  of  Nuveen, Nuveen  Advisory  Corp.,  Nuveen Institutional
Advisory Corp.  and  The John  Nuveen  Company,  including in  each  case  these
individuals and their immediate family members (as defined above).
 
    Units  may be  purchased in  the primary or  secondary market  at the Public
Offering Price for  non-breakpoint purchases  minus the  concession the  Sponsor
typically  allows to brokers and dealers  for non-breakpoint purchases (see "HOW
UNITS OF  THE TRUSTS  ARE DISTRIBUTED  TO  THE PUBLIC?")  by (1)  investors  who
purchase  Units  through  registered  investment  advisers,  certified financial
planners and registered broker-dealers who  in each case either charge  periodic
fees  for financial planning, investment  advisory or asset management services,
or provide such services in connection  with the establishment of an  investment
account  for which a comprehensive "wrap fee"  charge is imposed, (2) bank trust
departments investing  funds over  which they  exercise exclusive  discretionary
investment  authority and  that are  held in  a fiduciary,  agency, custodial or
similar capacity, (3) any person who for at least 90 days, has been an  officer,
director  or bona fide employee of any firm offering Units for sale to investors
or their  immediate family  members  (as defined  above)  and (4)  officers  and
directors  of  bank  holding companies  that  make Units  available  directly or
through  subsidiaries  or  bank  affiliates.  Notwithstanding  anything  to  the
contrary  in  this  Prospectus,  such investors,  bank  trust  departments, firm
employees and bank  holding company  officers and directors  who purchase  Units
through  this  program will  not receive  sales  charge reductions  for quantity
purchases.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    The initial or primary Public Offering Price  of the Units in each Trust  is
based upon a pro rata share of the OFFERING prices per Unit of the Bonds in such
Trust  plus the  applicable sales charge.  The secondary  market Public Offering
Price of each Trust is based upon a pro rata share of the BID prices per Unit of
the Bonds in such Trust plus the applicable sales charge. The OFFERING prices of
Bonds in a Trust may be expected to average between 1/2% to 2% more than the BID
prices of such  Bonds. The difference  between the bid  side evaluation and  the
offering side evaluation of the Bonds in each Trust on the business day prior to
the Date of Deposit is shown in the discussion of each Trust portfolio.
 
    Whether  or not Units are being offered for sale, the Sponsor will determine
the aggregate value of each Trust as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time: (i) on each June
30 or December 31 (or, if such date is not a business day, the last business day
prior thereto), (ii) on any day on  which a Unit is tendered for redemption  (or
the  next succeeding business day  if the date of  tender is a non-business day)
and (iii) at such other times as may be necessary. For this purpose, a "business
day" shall be any day on which  the Exchange is normally open. (See "UNIT  VALUE
AND EVALUATION.")
 
MARKET FOR UNITS
 
During  the  initial public  offering period,  the Sponsor  intends to  offer to
purchase Units of each  Trust at a  price equivalent to the  pro rata share  per
Unit  of the OFFERING prices of the Bonds in such Trust (plus accrued interest).
Afterward, although  it  is not  obligated  to do  so,  the Sponsor  intends  to
maintain  a secondary  market for  Units of  each Trust  at its  own expense and
continuously to offer  to purchase  Units of each  Trust at  prices, subject  to
change  at  any time,  which  are based  upon  the BID  prices  of Bonds  in the
respective portfolios of the  Trusts. UNITHOLDERS WHO WISH  TO DISPOSE OF  THEIR
UNITS SHOULD INQUIRE OF THE TRUSTEE OR THEIR BROKER AS TO THE CURRENT REDEMPTION
PRICE. (See "HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE?".) In connection with its
secondary  marketmaking activities, the Sponsor may from time to time enter into
secondary market  joint  account  agreements with  other  brokers  and  dealers.
Pursuant to such an agreement the Sponsor will purchase Units from the broker or
dealer at the bid price and will place the Units into a joint account managed by
the  Sponsor; sales from  the account will  be made in  accordance with the then
current prospectus and the Sponsor and  the broker or dealer will share  profits
and  losses in  the joint account  in accordance  with the terms  of their joint
account agreement.
 
    Certificates, if any, for Units are  delivered to the purchaser as  promptly
after the date of settlement (three business days after purchase) as the Trustee
can  complete  the mechanics  of registration,  normally  within 48  hours after
registration instructions are received. Purchasers of Units to whom Certificates
are issued will be unable  to exercise any right  of redemption until they  have
received  their Certificates as tender of the Certificate, properly endorsed for
transfer. (See "HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE?".)
 
WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?
 
Accrued interest is the accumulation of unpaid interest on a bond from the  last
day  on which  interest thereon  was paid.  Interest on  Bonds in  each Trust is
accounted for daily on an accrual basis. For this reason, the purchase price  of
Units  of a Trust will  include not only the Public  Offering Price but also the
proportionate share  of accrued  interest  to the  date of  settlement.  Accrued
interest  does not  include accrual  of original  issue discount  on zero coupon
bonds, Stripped Obligations  or other  original issue  discount bonds.  Interest
accrues  to the  benefit of Unitholders  commencing with the  settlement date of
their purchase transaction.
 
    In an effort to reduce the  amount of accrued interest that investors  would
have  to pay in addition to the Public Offering Price, the Trustee has agreed to
advance to each Trust the amount of accrued interest due on the Bonds as of  the
Date  of Deposit (which has been designated  the first Record Date for all plans
of distribution).  This accrued  interest will  be paid  to the  Sponsor as  the
holder  of record of all Units on  the Date of Deposit. Consequently, the amount
of accrued interest  to be  added to  the Public  Offering Price  of Units  will
include  only accrued interest from  the Date of Deposit  to, but not including,
the date of  settlement of the  investor's purchase (three  business days  after
purchase), less any distributions from the related Interest Account. The Trustee
will  recover its  advancements (without interest  or other cost  to the Trusts)
from interest received on the Bonds deposited in each Trust.
 
    The Trustee has no  cash for distribution to  Unitholders until it  receives
interest  payments on the Bonds in the  Trusts. Since municipal bond interest is
accrued daily but  paid only  semi-annually, during  the initial  months of  the
Trusts,  the Interest Accounts,  consisting of accrued  but uncollected interest
and collected interest  (cash), will  be predominantly  the uncollected  accrued
interest that is not available for distribution. However, due to advances by the
Trustee,  the Trustee will provide a first distribution between approximately 30
and 60 days after the Date of Deposit. Assuming each Trust retains its  original
size  and composition  and expenses  and fees  remain the  same, annual interest
collected and distributed  will approximate  the estimated  Net Annual  Interest
Income  stated herein. However, the  amount of accrued interest  at any point in
time will  be  greater than  the  amount that  the  Trustee will  have  actually
received and distributed to the Unitholders. Therefore, there will always remain
an  item of  accrued interest  that is  included in  the Purchase  Price and the
redemption price of the Units.
 
    Interest is accounted  for daily and  a proportionate share  of accrued  and
undistributed  interest computed from the preceding  Record Date is added to the
daily valuation of each Unit of each  Trust. (See Part A of this Prospectus  and
"WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?".) As Bonds mature, or are redeemed
or  sold,  the  accrued  interest  applicable to  such  bonds  is  collected and
subsequently distributed to Unitholders. Unitholders who
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
sell or redeem all or a portion of their Units will be paid their  proportionate
share  of  the  remaining accrued  interest  to,  but not  including,  the third
business day following the date of sale or tender.
 
WHAT ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?
 
The Estimated Long Term Return for each Trust is a measure of the return to  the
investor  expected  to be  earned  over the  estimated  life of  the  Trust. The
Estimated Long Term Return represents an  average of the yields to maturity  (or
call)  of  the Bonds  in  the Trust's  portfolio  calculated in  accordance with
accepted bond practice and adjusted to reflect expenses and sales charges. Under
accepted bond practice, tax-exempt bonds are customarily offered to investors on
a "yield price" basis, which involves computation of yield to maturity or to  an
earlier  call date  (whichever produces the  lower yield), and  which takes into
account not only the interest payable on the bonds but also the amortization  or
accretion  of  any premium  over,  or discount  from,  the par  (maturity) value
inherent in the bond's purchase price. In the calculation of Estimated Long Term
Return, the average yield for the Trust's portfolio is derived by weighting each
Bond's yield by the market value of the Bond and by the amount of time remaining
to the date to  which the Bond  is priced. This weighted  average yield is  then
adjusted  to  reflect estimated  expenses, is  compounded, and  is reduced  by a
factor which represents the amortization of  the sales charge over the  expected
average  life of the Trust. The Estimated  Long Term Return calculation does not
take into account the effect  of a first distribution which  may be less than  a
regular  distribution or may  be paid at some  point after 30  days (or a second
distribution which may be  less than a normal  distribution for Unitholders  who
choose  quarterly or  semi-annual plans of  distribution), and it  also does not
take into account the difference in timing of payments to Unitholders who choose
quarterly or semi-annual plans  of distribution, each of  which will reduce  the
return.
 
    Estimated  Current Return  is computed by  dividing the  Net Annual Interest
Income per Unit by the Public Offering Price. In contrast to Estimated Long Term
Return, Estimated Current Return does not reflect the amortization of premium or
accretion of discount, if any, on the Bonds in the Trust's portfolio. Net Annual
Interest Income per Unit is calculated by dividing the annual interest income to
the Trust, less estimated expenses, by the number of Units outstanding.
 
    Net Annual Interest  Income per  Unit, used to  calculate Estimated  Current
Return,  will vary  with changes  in fees  and expenses  of the  Trustee and the
Evaluator and  with the  redemption,  maturity, exchange  or  sale of  Bonds.  A
Unitholder's  actual return may vary  significantly from the Estimated Long-Term
Return, based  on their  holding  period, market  interest rate  changes,  other
factors  affecting  the  prices  of  individual  bonds  in  the  portfolio,  and
differences between  the expected  remaining  life of  portfolio bonds  and  the
actual length of time that they remain in the Trust; such actual holding periods
may be reduced by termination of the Trust, as described in "OTHER INFORMATION."
Since  both  the Estimated  Current Return  and the  Estimated Long  Term Return
quoted herein are  based on  the market  value of  the underlying  Bonds on  the
business  day prior  to the  Date of  Deposit, subsequent  calculations of these
performance  measures  will  reflect  the  then  current  market  value  of  the
underlying  Bonds and may be higher or lower. The Sponsor will provide estimated
cash flow  information relating  to a  Trust without  charge to  each  potential
investor  in a Trust who  receives this prospectus and  makes an oral or written
request to the Sponsor for such information.
 
    A portion of the  monies received by  a Trust may be  treated, in the  first
year  only, as a return of principal due to the inclusion in the Trust portfolio
of "when-issued"  or  other  Bonds  having delivery  dates  after  the  date  of
settlement  for purchases  made on  the Date of  Deposit. A  consequence of this
treatment is that in the computation  of Estimated Current Return for the  first
year, such monies are excluded from Net Annual Interest Income and treated as an
adjustment  to the Public Offering Price. (See "Essential Information" appearing
in Part A  of this  Prospectus, "COMPOSITION  OF TRUSTS"  and "WHAT  IS THE  TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?")
 
    A  comparison of tax-free  and equivalent taxable  estimated current returns
with the returns on  various taxable investments is  one element to consider  in
making  an  investment  decision. The  Sponsor  may  from time  to  time  in its
advertising and sales materials compare the then current estimated returns on  a
Trust  and returns  over specified periods  on other similar  Nuveen Trusts with
returns on taxable investments such as corporate or U.S. Government bonds,  bank
CD's  and  money  market accounts  or  money  market funds,  each  of  which has
investment characteristics  that  may  differ  from those  of  the  Trust.  U.S.
Government  bonds, for example, are  backed by the full  faith and credit of the
U.S. Government and bank CD's and money market accounts are insured by an agency
of the federal government. Money market accounts and money market funds  provide
stability  of principal, but pay interest at  rates that vary with the condition
of the short-term debt market. The investment characteristics of the Trusts  are
described more fully elsewhere in the Prospectus.
 
HOW WAS THE PRICE OF THE BONDS DETERMINED AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT?
 
The prices at which the Bonds deposited in the Trusts would have been offered to
the  public on the business day prior to  the Date of Deposit were determined by
the Trustee on the basis  of an evaluation of such  Bonds prepared by Kenny  S&P
Evaluation  Services, a  division of  J. J.  Kenny Co.,  Inc., a  firm regularly
engaged in the business of  evaluating, quoting or appraising comparable  bonds.
With respect to Bonds in Insured Trusts and insured Bonds in Traditional Trusts,
Kenny  S&P Evaluation Services, a  division of J. J.  Kenny Co., Inc., evaluated
the Bonds as so insured. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?".)
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    The amount by which  the Trustee's determination of  the OFFERING PRICES  of
the  Bonds deposited  in the Trusts  was greater or  less than the  cost of such
Bonds to  the  Sponsor was  PROFIT  OR LOSS  to  the Sponsor  exclusive  of  any
underwriting  profit.  (See Part  A of  this Prospectus.)  The Sponsor  also may
realize FURTHER PROFIT OR  SUSTAIN FURTHER LOSS as  a result of fluctuations  in
the  Public Offering  Price of the  Units. Cash,  if any, made  available to the
Sponsor prior to the settlement  date for a purchase of  Units, or prior to  the
acquisition  of all Portfolio securities by a Trust, may be available for use in
the Sponsor's business, and may be of benefit to the Sponsor.
 
WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?
 
At the  respective times  of issuance  of the  Bonds, opinions  relating to  the
validity  thereof and to  the exemption of interest  thereon from Federal income
tax were rendered  by bond  counsel to  the respective  issuing authorities.  In
addition,  with respect to  State Trusts, where applicable,  bond counsel to the
issuing authorities rendered opinions  as to the exemption  of interest on  such
Bonds,  when held by residents  of the state in which  the issuers of such Bonds
are located, from state income taxes and certain state or local intangibles  and
local  income taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of State Trusts see Part
A of this Prospectus. Neither the Sponsor nor its counsel have made any  special
review  for the Trusts of the proceedings  relating to the issuance of the Bonds
or of  the basis  for the  opinions  rendered in  connection therewith.  If  the
interest  on a Bond should be determined to be taxable, the Bond would generally
have to  be sold  at a  substantial discount.  In addition,  investors could  be
required  to pay  income tax  on interest  received prior  to the  date of which
interest is determined to be taxable.
 
    Federally tax-exempt income, including income  on Units of the Trusts,  will
be taken into consideration in computing the portion, if any, of social security
benefits  received that will be included in a taxpayer's gross income subject to
the Federal income tax.
 
    Gain realized on the sale or redemption of the Bonds by the Trustee or of  a
Unit  by  a Unitholder  is includable  in  gross income  for Federal  income tax
purposes, and may be  includable in gross income  for state tax purposes.  (Such
gain  does not  include any  amounts received  in respect  of tax-exempt accrued
interest  or  accrued  original  issue  discount,  if  any.)  A  portion  of   a
Unitholder's  gain, to the extent of accreted market discount, may be treated as
ordinary income rather than capital gain if the Bonds were purchased by a  Trust
at a market discount or if the Unitholder purchased his or her Units at a market
discount  on or  after April 30,  1993. Market  discount can arise  based on the
price the Trust pays for the Bonds or the price a Unitholder pays for his or her
Units. Market  discount that  accretes while  the Trust  holds a  Bond would  be
recognized  as ordinary  income by the  Unitholders when  principal payments are
received on the Bond, upon sale  or at redemption (including early  redemption),
or  upon the sale or redemption of his  or her Units, unless a Unitholder elects
to include market discount in taxable income as it accrues. The market  discount
rules  are complex and  Unitholders should consult  their tax advisors regarding
these rules and their application.
 
    In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, Counsel to the Sponsor, under existing
law:
 
    (1) the Trusts  are not  associations taxable  as corporations  for  Federal
        income  tax purposes. Tax-exempt interest received by each of the Trusts
        on  Bonds  deposited  therein  will  retain  its  status  as  tax-exempt
        interest,  for Federal income tax purposes,  when received by the Trusts
        and when distributed  to the  Unitholders, except  that the  alternative
        minimum  tax and environmental  tax (the "Superfund  Tax") applicable to
        corporate Unitholders  may, in  certain  circumstances, include  in  the
        amount  on which  such taxes  are calculated  a portion  of the interest
        income received by  the Trust.  See "CERTAIN TAX  MATTERS APPLICABLE  TO
        CORPORATE UNITHOLDERS", below;
 
    (2) each  Unitholder of a Trust is considered to  be the owner of a pro rata
        portion of such Trust under Subpart E, subchapter J of Chapter 1 of  the
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") and will have a taxable event
        when  the Trust  disposes of  a Bond or  when the  Unitholder redeems or
        sells Units. Unitholders must  reduce the tax basis  of their Units  for
        their  share of accrued interest received by the Trust, if any, on Bonds
        delivered after  the  date the  Unitholders  pay for  their  Units  and,
        consequently,  such Unitholders may have an  increase in taxable gain or
        reduction in capital loss  upon the disposition of  such Units. Gain  or
        loss  upon the sale or redemption of  Units is measured by comparing the
        proceeds of  such sale  or redemption  with the  adjusted basis  of  the
        Units.  If the  Trustee disposes of  Bonds (whether by  sale, payment at
        maturity, redemption or otherwise),  gain or loss  is recognized to  the
        Unitholder. The amount of any such gain or loss is measured by comparing
        the  Unitholder's  pro  rata  share  of  the  total  proceeds  from such
        disposition with  the  Unitholder's  basis for  his  or  her  fractional
        interest  in the  asset disposed  of. In  the case  of a  Unitholder who
        purchases Units, such basis (before adjustment for earned original issue
        discount  and  amortized  bond  premium,   if  any)  is  determined   by
        apportioning  the  cost of  the  Units among  each  of the  Trust assets
        ratably according to value as of  the date of acquisition of the  Units.
        The   tax  cost  reduction   requirements  of  said   Code  relating  to
        amortization of bond  premium may, under  some circumstances, result  in
        the  Unitholder realizing a taxable gain when  his or her Units are sold
        or redeemed for an amount equal to their original cost; and
 
    (3) any amounts paid on defaulted Bonds  held by the Trustee under  policies
        of  insurance issued with respect to  such Bonds will be excludable from
        Federal gross income if, and to the same extent as, such interest  would
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
        have  been so excludable if paid by the respective issuer provided that,
        at the  time such  policies are  purchased, the  amounts paid  for  such
        policies  are reasonable,  customary and consistent  with the reasonable
        expectation that the issuer of the bonds, rather than the insurer,  will
        pay  debt  service  on  the  bonds. Paragraph  (2)  of  this  opinion is
        accordingly  applicable   to  policy   proceeds  representing   maturing
        interest.
 
In the opinion of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, counsel to the Trustee, and, in the
absence  of a New York Trust from the Series, special counsel for the Series for
New York tax matters, under existing law:
 
        Under the income tax laws of the State and City of New York, each  Trust
    is  not an association taxable as a corporation and the income of each Trust
    will be treated as the income of the Unitholders.
 
    For a summary  of each opinion  of special counsel  to the respective  State
Trusts for state tax matters, see Part A of this Prospectus.
 
    ALL STATEMENTS IN THE PROSPECTUS CONCERNING EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL, STATE OR
OTHER TAXES ARE THE OPINION OF COUNSEL AND ARE TO BE SO CONSTRUED.
 
    The Internal Revenue Code provides that interest on indebtedness incurred or
continued  to purchase  or carry  obligations, the  interest on  which is wholly
exempt from Federal income taxes, is not deductible. Because each Unitholder  is
treated  for Federal income tax purposes as the owner of a pro rata share of the
Bonds owned by the applicable Trust, interest on borrowed funds used to purchase
or carry Units  of such  Trust will  not be  deductible for  Federal income  tax
purposes.  Under rules used by the Internal Revenue Service for determining when
borrowed funds are  considered used for  the purpose of  purchasing or  carrying
particular  assets, the purchase  of Units may  be considered to  have been made
with borrowed funds even though the borrowed funds are not directly traceable to
the purchase of Units (however, these  rules generally do not apply to  interest
paid  on indebtedness  incurred to  purchase or  improve a  personal residence).
Similar rules are  generally applicable  for state tax  purposes. Special  rules
apply  in  the  case  of  certain  financial  institutions  that  acquire Units.
Investors with questions regarding  these issues should  consult with their  tax
advisers.
 
    For  purposes of computing  the alternative minimum  tax for individuals and
corporations, interest on certain specified tax-exempt private activity bonds is
included as a preference item. The Trusts do not include any such bonds.
 
    CERTAIN TAX  MATTERS APPLICABLE  TO CORPORATE  UNITHOLDERS. In  the case  of
certain  corporations, the alternative minimum tax  and the Superfund Tax depend
upon the corporation's alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI"), which is the
corporation's taxable income  with certain  adjustments. One  of the  adjustment
items  used in computing AMTI and the Superfund Tax of a corporation (other than
an S corporation, Regulated Investment Company, Real Estate Investment Trust, or
REMIC) is an amount equal to 75%  of the excess of such corporation's  "adjusted
current  earnings" over an amount equal to its AMTI (before such adjustment item
and the  alternative  tax net  operation  loss deduction).  Although  tax-exempt
interest  received by each of the Trusts  on Bonds deposited therein will not be
included in the gross  income of corporations for  Federal income tax  purposes,
"adjusted current earnings" includes all tax-exempt interest, including interest
on all Bonds in the Trust and tax-exempt original issue discount.
 
    Corporate  Unitholders  are urged  to consult  their  own tax  advisers with
respect to the particular tax consequences  to them resulting under the  Federal
tax  law, including the corporate alternative minimum tax, the Superfund Tax and
the branch profits tax imposed by Section 884 of the Code.
 
    EXCEPT AS NOTED ABOVE  AND IN PART  A OF THIS  PROSPECTUS, THE EXEMPTION  OF
INTEREST ON STATE AND LOCAL OBLIGATIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES DOES NOT
NECESSARILY  RESULT IN EXEMPTION UNDER THE INCOME OR OTHER TAX LAWS OF ANY STATE
OR CITY. THE LAWS  OF THE SEVERAL  STATES VARY WITH RESPECT  TO THE TAXATION  OF
SUCH OBLIGATIONS.
 
WHAT ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?
 
No  annual advisory  fee is charged  to the  Trusts by the  Sponsor. The Sponsor
does, however, receive a fee as set  forth in "Essential Information" in Part  A
of  this  Prospectus  for regularly  evaluating  the Bonds  and  for maintaining
surveillance over the portfolio. (See "UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION.")
 
    The Trustee receives for ordinary recurring services an annual fee for  each
plan  of distribution  for each  Trust as  set forth  in "Essential Information"
appearing in Part A of this Prospectus. Each annual fee is per $1,000  principal
amount  of the underlying  Bonds in a Trust  for that portion  of the Trust that
represents  a  particular  plan  of  distribution.  The  Trustee's  fee  may  be
periodically  adjusted in response to  fluctuations in short-term interest rates
(reflecting the  cost to  the Trustee  of advancing  funds to  a Trust  to  meet
scheduled  distributions) and  may be  further adjusted  in accordance  with the
cumulative percentage  increase  of  the United  States  Department  of  Labor's
Consumer  Price Index  entitled "All  Services Less  Rent of  Shelter" since the
establishment of the Trusts.  The Trustee has  the use of  funds, if any,  being
held   in  the  Interest  and  Principal  Accounts  of  each  Trust  for  future
distributions,  payment  of  expenses   and  redemptions.  These  Accounts   are
non-interest  bearing to Unitholders. Pursuant to normal banking procedures, the
Trustee benefits  from the  use of  funds held  therein. Part  of the  Trustee's
compensation for its services to the Fund is expected to result from such use of
these funds.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
    Premiums  for the policies  of insurance obtained  by the Sponsor  or by the
Bond issuers with respect to the Bonds in the Insured Trusts and with respect to
insured Bonds in Traditional Trusts have been paid in full prior to the  deposit
of the Bonds in the Trusts, and the value of such insurance has been included in
the evaluation of the Bonds in each Trust and accordingly in the Public Offering
Price  of Units of each Trust. There  are no annual continuing premiums for such
insurance.
 
    All or  a portion  of  the expenses  incurred  in establishing  the  Trusts,
including costs of preparing the registration statement, the trust indenture and
other  closing  documents, registering  Units with  the Securities  and Exchange
Commission and states, the  initial audit of each  Trust portfolio, legal  fees,
the  initial  fees  and  expenses  of the  Trustee  and  any  other non-material
out-of-pocket expenses, will be paid by the Trusts and amortized over the  first
five  years of such Trusts. The following  are additional expenses of the Trusts
and, when paid  by or are  owed to  the Trustee, are  secured by a  lien on  the
assets  of the  Trust or Trusts  to which  such expenses are  allocable: (1) the
expenses and costs of any action undertaken by the Trustee to protect the Trusts
and the  rights  and interests  of  the Unitholders;  (2)  all taxes  and  other
governmental  charges upon the Bonds or any part of the Trusts (no such taxes or
charges are  being  levied  or  made  or,  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Sponsor,
contemplated); (3) amounts payable to the Trustee as fees for ordinary recurring
services  and for extraordinary non-recurring  services rendered pursuant to the
Indenture, all disbursements and expenses including counsel fees (including fees
of bond  counsel which  the Trustee  may retain)  sustained or  incurred by  the
Trustee  in connection therewith; and (4)  any losses or liabilities accruing to
the Trustee without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part. The
Trustee is empowered to sell  Bonds in order to pay  these amounts if funds  are
not otherwise available in the applicable Interest and Principal Accounts.
 
    The  Indenture requires each Trust  to be audited on  an annual basis at the
expense of the Trust by independent public accountants selected by the  Sponsor.
The  Trustee  shall not  be  required, however,  to cause  such  an audit  to be
performed if its cost to a Trust shall exceed $.05 per Unit on an annual  basis.
Unitholders  of a  Trust covered by  an audit may  obtain a copy  of the audited
financial statements upon request.
 
WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?
 
Interest received by the Trustee on the Bonds in each Trust, including that part
of the proceeds of  any disposition of Bonds  which represents accrued  interest
and  including  any insurance  proceeds representing  interest due  on defaulted
Bonds, shall be credited to the "Interest  Account" of such Trust and all  other
moneys  received by the Trustee shall be  credited to the "Principal Account" of
such Trust.
 
    The pro rata share of  cash in the Principal Account  in each Trust will  be
computed as of each semi-annual Record Date and distributions to the Unitholders
as of such Record Date will be made on or shortly after the fifteenth day of the
month. Proceeds received from the disposition, including sale, call or maturity,
of  any of the Bonds and all amounts  paid with respect to zero coupon bonds and
Stripped Obligations will be  held in the Principal  Account and either used  to
pay  for Units  redeemed or distributed  on the Distribution  Date following the
next semi-annual Record Date. The Trustee is not required to make a distribution
from the  Principal  Account  of  any Trust  unless  the  amount  available  for
distribution in such account equals at least ten cents per Unit.
 
    The pro rata share of the Interest Account in each Trust will be computed by
the  Trustee each month as of each Record Date and distributions will be made on
or shortly after the fifteenth day of the month to Unitholders of such Trust  as
of the Record Date who are entitled to distributions at that time under the plan
of  distribution chosen. Persons who purchase Units  between a Record Date and a
Distribution Date will receive their first distribution on the Distribution Date
following the next Record Date under the applicable plan of distribution.
 
    Purchasers of  Units  who desire  to  receive interest  distributions  on  a
monthly or quarterly basis may elect to do so at the time of purchase during the
initial  public offering  period. Those indicating  no choice will  be deemed to
have chosen the  semi-annual distribution  plan. All  Unitholders, however,  who
purchase  Units during the initial  public offering period and  who hold them of
record on the first Record Date will receive the first distribution of interest.
Thereafter, Record Dates for monthly distributions will be the first day of each
month; Record  Dates  for quarterly  distributions  will  be the  first  day  of
February,   May,  August  and   November;  and  Record   Dates  for  semi-annual
distributions will be  the first day  of May and  November. See Part  A of  this
Prospectus for details of distributions per Unit of each Trust under the various
plans  based upon estimated Net  Annual Interest Income at  the Date of Deposit.
The amount of  the regular distributions  will generally change  when Bonds  are
redeemed, mature or are sold or when fees and expenses increase or decrease. For
the  purpose of minimizing  fluctuations in the  distributions from the Interest
Account of a Trust, the Trustee is authorized to advance such amounts as may  be
necessary  to provide for interest distributions of approximately equal amounts.
The Trustee shall be  reimbursed, without interest, for  any such advances  from
funds  in  the Interest  Account of  such  Trust. The  Trustee's fee  takes into
account the costs  attributable to  the outlay of  capital needed  to make  such
advances.
 
    The  plan of  distribution selected  by a  Unitholder will  remain in effect
until changed.  Unitholders  purchasing  Units  in  the  secondary  market  will
initially  receive distributions  in accordance with  the election  of the prior
owner. Unitholders desiring to  change their plan of  distribution may do so  by
sending   a   written  notice   requesting   the  change,   together   with  any
Certificate(s), to  the  Trustee. The  notice  and any  Certificate(s)  must  be
received by the
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
Trustee  not later than  the semi-annual Record  Date to be  effective as of the
semi-annual distribution  following  the  subsequent  semi-annual  Record  Date.
Unitholders  are requested to make any such  changes within 45 days prior to the
applicable Record  Date.  Certificates should  only  be sent  by  registered  or
certified  mail to minimize the possibility of  their being lost or stolen. (See
"OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS.")
 
    As of the first day of each month the Trustee will deduct from the  Interest
Account  of a Trust or, to the extent funds are not sufficient therein, from the
Principal Account of  a Trust, amounts  needed for payment  of expenses of  such
Trust.  The Trustee also may withdraw from said accounts such amount, if any, as
it deems necessary to establish a  reserve for any governmental charges  payable
out  of such Trust. Amounts  so withdrawn shall not be  considered a part of the
Trust's assets until such time  as the Trustee shall return  all or any part  of
such amounts to the appropriate account. In addition, the Trustee shall withdraw
from  the Interest Account and the Principal  Account of a Trust such amounts as
may be necessary to  cover redemptions of  Units of such  Trust by the  Trustee.
Funds  which are available for future  distributions, redemptions and payment of
expenses are held in accounts which are non-interest bearing to Unitholders  and
are available for use by the Trustee pursuant to normal banking procedures.
 
ACCUMULATION PLAN
 
The  Sponsor  is  also  the  principal  underwriter  of  the  Accumulation Funds
described  in  the  following  table.  Each  of  these  funds  is  an  open-end,
diversified  management investment company into  which Unitholders may choose to
reinvest  Trust   distributions  automatically,   without  any   sales   charge.
(Reinvestment  generally is available  only to Unitholders  who are residents of
the states for which such portfolios  are named.) Unitholders may reinvest  both
interest  and  principal  distributions or  principal  distributions  only. Each
Accumulation Fund has  investment objectives  which differ  in certain  respects
from  those  of the  Trusts  and may  invest in  securities  which would  not be
eligible for deposit in the Trusts. The investment adviser to each  Accumulation
Fund  is Nuveen Advisory Corp., a wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Sponsor. For a
more detailed description,  Unitholders of  each Accumulation  Fund should  read
carefully  the prospectus of the Accumulation Fund in which they are interested.
For additional information concerning the Accumulation Plan see the  Information
Supplement of this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      ACCUMULATION FUND                                            GENERAL FUND DESCRIPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>
Nuveen Municipal Bond Fund                                      Tax-exempt   income  by   investing  in   long-term  municipal
                                                                securities.
Nuveen Tax-Free  Reserves,  Inc.  and  Nuveen  Tax-Free  Money
Market Fund, Inc.:
Nuveen  Massachusetts  Tax-Free Money  Market Fund  Nuveen New  Tax-exempt and in certain cases double and triple tax-  exempt
York Tax-Free Money Market Fund                                 "money market" funds with checkwriting privileges.
Nuveen California Tax-Free Fund:
Nuveen California Tax-Free Value Fund                           Double  tax-exempt income by investing in long-term investment
                                                                grade California tax-exempt securities.
Nuveen California Insured Tax-Free Value Fund                   Double tax-exempt income  by investing  in insured  California
                                                                tax-exempt securities.
Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund                    California  tax-exempt "money  market" fund  with checkwriting
                                                                privileges.
Nuveen Tax-Free  Bond Fund,  Inc.  and the  Nuveen  Multistate
Tax-Free Trust:
Nuveen  Massachusetts  Tax-Free  Value Fund,  Nuveen  New York  Double and  in  certain  cases  triple  tax-exempt  income  by
Tax-Free  Value Fund, Nuveen Ohio  Tax-Free Value Fund, Nuveen  investing in tax-exempt securities in the state for which  the
New  Jersey Tax-Free Value Fund, Nuveen Arizona Tax-Free Value  portfolio is named.
Fund, Nuveen  Florida  Tax-Free Value  Fund,  Nuveen  Maryland
Tax-Free  Value  Fund,  Nuveen Michigan  Tax-Free  Value Fund,
Nuveen Pennsylvania Tax-Free  Value Fund  and Nuveen  Virginia
Tax-Free Value Fund
Nuveen Insured Tax-Free Bond Fund, Inc.:
Nuveen  Insured  Municipal  Bond  Fund,  Nuveen  Massachusetts  Tax-exempt and in certain cases double and triple tax-  exempt
Insured  Tax-Free Value Fund  and the Nuveen  New York Insured  funds investing in insured tax-exempt securities in the  state
Tax-Free Value Fund.                                            for which the portfolio is named.
</TABLE>
 
Shareholder  Services, Inc.  will mail to  each participant  in the Accumulation
Plan a quarterly  statement containing  a record of  all transactions  involving
purchases of Accumulation Fund shares (or fractions thereof) with Trust interest
distributions or as a result of reinvestment of Accumulation Fund dividends. Any
distribution of principal used
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
to  purchase  shares of  an Accumulation  Fund will  be separately  confirmed by
Shareholder Services, Inc. Unitholders will also receive distribution statements
from the Trustee detailing  the amounts transferred  to their Accumulation  Fund
accounts.
 
Participants  may at any time, by so  notifying the Trustee in writing, elect to
change  the  Accumulation  Fund  into   which  their  distributions  are   being
reinvested,  to change from principal only  reinvestment to reinvestment of both
principal and interest or vice versa, or to terminate their participation in the
Accumulation Plan altogether and receive future distributions on their Units  in
cash.  There will be no  charge or other penalty for  such change of election or
termination. The character of Trust  distributions for income tax purposes  will
remain unchanged even if they are reinvested in an Accumulation Fund.
 
HOW DETAILED ARE REPORTS TO UNITHOLDERS?
 
The  Trustee  shall  furnish Unitholders  of  a  Trust in  connection  with each
distribution, a statement of the amount of  interest, if any, and the amount  of
other  receipts (received  since the preceding  distribution) being distributed,
expressed in each case  as a dollar  amount representing the  pro rata share  of
each Unit of a Trust outstanding and a year to date summary of all distributions
paid  on said Units.  Within a reasonable period  of time after  the end of each
calendar year, the Trustee shall furnish to  each person who at any time  during
the  calendar  year was  a registered  Unitholder  of a  Trust a  statement with
respect to  such  Trust  (i)  as to  the  Interest  Account:  interest  received
(including  amounts  representing  interest  received  upon  any  disposition of
Bonds), and, except  for any  State Trust, the  percentage of  such interest  by
states  in which the issuers  of the Bonds are  located, deductions for fees and
expenses of such Trust, redemption of Units and the balance remaining after such
distributions and deductions,  expressed in  each case  both as  a total  dollar
amount  and as  a dollar  amount representing  the pro  rata share  of each Unit
outstanding on the  last business  day of  such calendar  year; (ii)  as to  the
Principal  Account: the dates of  disposition of any Bonds  and the net proceeds
received therefrom (excluding  any portion representing  accrued interest),  the
amount  paid for purchase of Replacement  Bonds, the amount paid upon redemption
of Units, deductions for  payment of applicable taxes  and fees and expenses  of
the  Trustee, and the balance remaining  after such distributions and deductions
expressed both as a total dollar amount and as a dollar amount representing  the
pro  rata  share of  each  Unit outstanding  on the  last  business day  of such
calendar year;  (iii)  a  list  of  the Bonds  held  and  the  number  of  Units
outstanding  on the last business day of such calendar year; (iv) the Unit Value
based upon the last computation thereof made during such calendar year; and  (v)
amounts actually distributed during such calendar year from the Interest Account
and  from  the Principal  Account, separately  stated,  expressed both  as total
dollar amounts and  as dollar amounts  representing the pro  rata share of  each
Unit  outstanding. Each annual  statement will reflect  pertinent information in
respect of  all  plans of  distribution  so  that Unitholders  may  be  informed
regarding the results of other plans of distribution.
 
UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION
 
The  value of each  Trust is determined by  the Sponsor on the  basis of (1) the
cash on hand in the Trust or moneys  in the process of being collected, (2)  the
value  of the Bonds in  the Trust based on  the BID prices of  the Bonds and (3)
interest  accrued  thereon   not  subject  to   collection,  LESS  (1)   amounts
representing  taxes or governmental charges payable out of the Trust and (2) the
accrued expenses of the Trust. The result of such computation is divided by  the
number  of Units of such  Trust outstanding as of  the date thereof to determine
the per Unit value ("Unit Value") of  such Trust. The Sponsor may determine  the
value  of the Bonds in each Trust (1) on  the basis of current BID prices of the
Bonds obtained from dealers or brokers who customarily deal in bonds  comparable
to  those held by the Trust, (2) if bid  prices are not available for any of the
Bonds, on the basis of bid prices for comparable bonds, (3) by causing the value
of the Bonds to be determined by  others engaged in the practice of  evaluating,
quoting  or appraising comparable bonds or (4)  by any combination of the above.
Although the Unit Value of each Trust is  based on the BID prices of the  Bonds,
the Units are sold initially to the public at the Public Offering Price based on
the OFFERING prices of the Bonds.
 
    Because  the insurance obtained  by the Sponsor  or by the  issuers of Bonds
with respect to  the Bonds in  the Insured  Trusts and with  respect to  insured
Bonds  in Traditional Trusts is effective so long as such Bonds are outstanding,
such insurance will be  taken into account in  determining the bid and  offering
prices  of such  Bonds and therefore  some value attributable  to such insurance
will be included in the value of Units of Trusts that include such Bonds.
 
HOW UNITS OF THE TRUSTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated is the Sponsor and sole Underwriter of the Units.
It is  the  intention  of  the  Sponsor  to  qualify  Units  of  National,  Long
Intermediate,  Intermediate, Short Intermediate  and Short Term  Trusts for sale
under the  laws of  substantially all  of the  states of  the United  States  of
America,  and Units  of State Trusts  only in the  state for which  the Trust is
named and selected other states.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
    Promptly following the deposit of Bonds in exchange for Units of the Trusts,
it is the practice of the Sponsor to place all of the Units as collateral for  a
letter or letters of credit from one or more commercial banks under an agreement
to  release such Units from time to  time as needed for distribution. Under such
an arrangement  the Sponsor  pays  such banks  compensation  based on  the  then
current  interest  rate. This  is a  normal  warehousing arrangement  during the
period of  distribution of  the Units  to public  investors. To  facilitate  the
handling  of  transactions,  sales of  Units  shall be  limited  to transactions
involving a minimum of either $5,000 or 50 Units, whichever is less. The Sponsor
reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any order for the purchase of
Units.
 
    The Sponsor plans to allow a  discount to brokers and dealers in  connection
with   the  primary  distribution   of  Units  and   also  in  secondary  market
transactions. The primary market discounts are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         DISCOUNT PER UNIT
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
                                 NATIONAL    LONG INTER-                  SHORT INTER-
                                AND STATE      MEDIATE     INTERMEDIATE      MEDIATE     SHORT TERM
NUMBER OF UNITS*                  TRUSTS       TRUSTS         TRUSTS         TRUSTS        TRUSTS
- ------------------------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -----------
Less than 500.................    $3.20         $2.90          $2.70          $2.00         $1.50
500 but less than 1,000.......     3.20         2.90           2.70           2.00          1.50
1,000 but less than 2,500.....     3.20         2.70           2.50           1.80          1.30
2,500 but less than 5,000.....     3.20         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
5,000 but less than 10,000....     2.50         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
10,000 but less than 25,000...     2.00         2.00           2.00           1.30           .80
25,000 but less than 50,000...     1.75         1.75           1.75           1.30           .60
50,000 or more................     1.75         1.50           1.50           1.00           .60
</TABLE>
 
*Breakpoint sales charges and related dealer concessions are computed both on  a
 dollar  basis and  on the  basis of  the number  of Units  purchased, using the
 equivalent of 500 Units to  $50,000, 2,500 Units to  $250,000 etc. and will  be
 applied on that basis which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The  Sponsor currently intends  to maintain a secondary  market for Units of
each Trust.  See "MARKET  FOR UNITS."  The amount  of the  dealer concession  on
secondary  market purchases of Trust Units  through the Sponsor will be computed
based upon the value of  the Bonds in the  Trust portfolio, including the  sales
charge  computed as described in "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?",
and adjusted to reflect  the cash position of  the Trust principal account,  and
will vary with the size of the purchase as shown in the following table:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               AMOUNT OF PURCHASE*
                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>
                                        $50,000   $100,000   $250,000   $500,000   $1,000,000  $2,500,000
                              UNDER       TO         TO         TO         TO          TO          TO      $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY            $50,000    $99,999   $249,999   $499,999   $999,999   $2,499,999  $4,999,999   OR MORE
- --------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Less than 1...............      0          0          0          0          0          0           0           0
1 but less than 2.........    1.00%      .90%       .85%       .80%       .70%        .55%       .467%       .389%
2 but less than 3.........    1.30%      1.20%      1.10%      1.00%      .90%        .73%       .634%       .538%
3 but less than 4.........    1.60%      1.45%      1.35%      1.25%      1.10%       .90%       .781%       .662%
4 but less than 5.........    2.00%      1.85%      1.75%      1.55%      1.40%      1.25%       1.082%      .914%
5 but less than 7.........    2.30%      2.15%      1.95%      1.80%      1.65%      1.50%       1.320%      1.140%
7 but less than 10........    2.60%      2.45%      2.25%      2.10%      1.95%      1.70%       1.496%      1.292%
10 but less than 13.......    3.00%      2.80%      2.60%      2.45%      2.30%      2.00%       1.747%      1.494%
13 but less than 16.......    3.25%      3.15%      3.00%      2.75%      2.50%      2.15%       1.878%      1.606%
16 or more................    3.50%      3.50%      3.40%      3.35%      3.00%      2.50%       2.185%      1.873%
</TABLE>
 
 *Breakpoint sales charges and related dealer concessions are computed both on a
  dollar  basis and  on the basis  of the  number of Units  purchased, using the
  equivalent of 500 Units to $50,000, 2,500 Units to $250,000, etc., and will be
  applied on that basis which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The Sponsor reserves the  right to change  the foregoing dealer  concessions
from time to time.
 
    Registered  investment advisers, certified financial planners and registered
broker-dealers who  in  each case  either  charge periodic  fees  for  financial
planning,  investment  advisory or  asset management  services, or  provide such
services in connection with the establishment of an investment account for which
a comprehensive  "wrap  fee"  charge  is imposed,  and  bank  trust  departments
investing  funds  over which  they  exercise exclusive  discretionary investment
authority and  that  are held  in  a  fiduciary, agency,  custodial  or  similar
capacity,  are  not entitled  to receive  any dealer  concession for  primary or
secondary market purchases in which an investor purchases any number of Units at
the Public Offering Price for non-breakpoint purchases minus the concession  the
sponsor  typically allows  to brokers  and dealers  for non-breakpoint purchases
(see "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?").
 
    Certain commercial banks are making Units  of the Trusts available to  their
customers  on  an agency  basis. A  portion of  the sales  charge paid  by these
customers is retained by or  remitted to the banks in  the amounts shown in  the
above  table.  The Glass-Steagall  Act prohibits  banks from  underwriting Trust
Units; the Act  does, however,  permit certain agency  transactions and  banking
regulators   have  not  indicated  that  these  particular  agency  transactions
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
are not permitted under the Act. In Texas and in certain other states, any  bank
making Units available must be registered as a broker-dealer under state law.
 
OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS
 
The  ownership of  Units is  evidenced by book  entry positions  recorded on the
books and records of the Trustee  unless the Unitholder expressly requests  that
the  purchased Units be evidenced in Certificate form. The Trustee is authorized
to treat as the owner of Units that person who at the time is registered as such
on the books of the Trustee. Any  Unitholder who holds a Certificate may  change
to  book entry ownership by submitting to the Trustee the Certificate along with
a written request that the Units represented by such Certificate be held in book
entry form. Likewise, a Unitholder who holds Units in book entry form may obtain
a Certificate for such  Units by written  request to the  Trustee. Units may  be
held in denominations of one Unit or any multiple or fraction thereof. Fractions
of  Units are computed to three decimal  places. Any Certificates issued will be
numbered serially for identification, and  are issued in fully registered  form,
transferable  only  on the  books of  the Trustee.  Book entry  Unitholders will
receive a Book Entry Position Confirmation reflecting their ownership.
 
   
    For Trusts allowing optional plans  of distribution, Certificates for  Units
will  bear  an  appropriate notation  on  their  face indicating  which  plan of
distribution has been selected. When a change is made, the existing Certificates
must be surrendered to  the Trustee and new  Certificates issued to reflect  the
currently  effective  plan of  distribution. There  will be  no charge  for this
service. Holders of book  entry Units can change  their plan of distribution  by
making  a written  request to  the Trustee,  which will  issue a  new Book Entry
Position Confirmation to reflect such change.
    
 
    Units are transferable by  making a written request  to the Trustee and,  in
the  case of Units  evidenced by Certificate(s),  by presenting and surrendering
such Certificate(s) to the Trustee, at its  address listed on the back cover  of
this  Part B of  the Prospectus, properly  endorsed or accompanied  by a written
instrument or  instruments  of  transfer.  The  Certificate(s)  should  be  sent
registered  or  certified  mail  for  the  protection  of  the  Unitholder. Each
Unitholder must sign such written  request, and such Certificate(s) or  transfer
instrument,  exactly as his name  appears on (a) the  face of the Certificate(s)
representing the  Units  to be  transferred,  or  (b) the  Book  Entry  Position
Confirmation(s)  relating to the Units to be transferred. Such signature(s) must
be guaranteed by a guarantor acceptable to the Trustee. In certain instances the
Trustee may require  additional documents  such as,  but not  limited to,  trust
instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor or administrator or
certificates  of corporate authority. Mutilated Certificates must be surrendered
to the Trustee in order for a replacement Certificate to be issued. Although  at
the  date hereof no charge is made and none is contemplated, a Unitholder may be
required to pay $2.00 to the  Trustee for each Certificate reissued or  transfer
of  Units requested and to  pay any governmental charge  which may be imposed in
connection therewith.
 
REPLACEMENT OF LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES.
 
    To obtain a  new Certificate replacing  one that has  been lost, stolen,  or
destroyed,   the   Unitholder   must  furnish   the   Trustee   with  sufficient
indemnification  and  pay  such  expenses   as  the  Trustee  may  incur.   This
indemnification  must be in the form of an Open Penalty Bond of Indemnification.
The premium for such an indemnity bond may vary, but currently amounts to 1%  of
the  market  value of  the Units  represented  by the  Certificate. In  the case
however, of  a Trust  as to  which notice  of termination  has been  given,  the
premium  currently amounts to 0.5% of the  market value of the Units represented
by such Certificate.
 
HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE
 
Unitholders may redeem all or a portion  of their Units by (1) making a  written
request  for such redemption (book entry Unitholders may use the redemption form
on the reverse side of their Book Entry Position Confirmation) to the Trustee at
its address  listed  on  the  back  cover of  this  Part  B  of  the  Prospectus
(redemptions  of 1,000 Units or more will require a signature guarantee), (2) in
the case of Units evidenced by a Certificate, by also tendering such Certificate
to the Trustee, duly endorsed or  accompanied by proper instruments of  transfer
with signatures guaranteed as explained above, or provide satisfactory indemnity
required  in  connection with  lost, stolen  or  destroyed Certificates  and (3)
payment of applicable governmental charges, if any. Certificates should be  sent
only  by registered or certified mail to minimize the possibility of their being
lost or stolen. (See "OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS".) No redemption fee  will
be   charged.  A  Unitholder  may  authorize  the  Trustee  to  honor  telephone
instructions for  the  redemption  of  Units held  in  book  entry  form.  Units
represented  by Certificates may  not be redeemed by  telephone. The proceeds of
Units redeemed by telephone will  be sent by check  either to the Unitholder  at
the  address specified on his account or to a financial institution specified by
the Unitholder for credit to the account of the Unitholder. A Unitholder wishing
to  use  this  method  of  redemption  must  complete  a  Telephone   Redemption
Authorization  Form and  furnish the Form  to the  Trustee. Telephone Redemption
Authorization  Forms   can   be   obtained  from   a   Unitholder's   registered
representative  or by calling the  Trustee. Once the completed  Form is on file,
the Trustee will honor telephone redemption  requests by any person. The time  a
telephone redemption request is received
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
determines the "date of tender" as discussed below. The redemption proceeds will
be mailed within three business days following the telephone redemption request.
Only  Units  held in  the  name of  individuals  may be  redeemed  by telephone;
accounts registered in broker name,  or accounts of corporations or  fiduciaries
(including  among others, trustees, guardians, executors and administrators) may
not use the telephone redemption privilege.
 
    On the third business day following the date of tender, the Unitholder  will
be  entitled to receive  in cash for each  Unit tendered an  amount equal to the
Unit Value of such Trust determined by the Trustee, as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time
on the date of tender  as defined hereafter, plus  accrued interest to, but  not
including, the third business day after the date of tender ("Redemption Price").
The  price received upon redemption may be more  or less than the amount paid by
the Unitholder  depending on  the value  of the  Bonds on  the date  of  tender.
Unitholders  should  check with  the Trustee  or their  broker to  determine the
Redemption Price before tendering Units.
 
    The "date of  tender" is  deemed to  be the date  on which  the request  for
redemption  of Units is received  in proper form by  the Trustee, except that as
regards a redemption request received after 4:00 p.m. eastern time or on any day
on which the New  York Stock Exchange (the  "Exchange") is normally closed,  the
date  of tender  is the  next day on  which such  Exchange is  normally open for
trading and such request will  be deemed to have been  made on such day and  the
redemption will be effected at the Redemption Price computed on that day.
 
    Accrued  interest paid  on redemption shall  be withdrawn  from the Interest
Account of the  appropriate Trust or,  if the balance  therein is  insufficient,
from  the Principal Account of such Trust.  All other amounts paid on redemption
shall be withdrawn from the Principal Account. The Trustee is empowered to  sell
underlying  Bonds of a  Trust in order  to make funds  available for redemption.
(See "HOW BONDS MAY  BE REMOVED FROM  THE TRUSTS.") Units  so redeemed shall  be
cancelled.  To  the  extent that  Bonds  are sold  from  a Trust,  the  size and
diversity of such Trust will  be reduced. Such sales may  be required at a  time
when  Bonds would not  otherwise be sold  and might result  in lower prices than
might otherwise be realized.
 
    The Redemption Price is  determined on the  basis of the  BID prices of  the
Bonds  in each Trust, while  the initial Public Offering  Price of Units will be
determined on the  basis of the  OFFERING prices of  the Bonds as  of 4:00  p.m.
eastern  time on any day on which the  Exchange is normally open for trading and
such determination is made. As of any given time, the difference between the bid
and offering prices  of such  Bonds may  be expected to  average 1/2%  to 2%  of
principal amount. In the case of actively traded Bonds, the difference may be as
little  as 1/4 to  1/2 of 1%,  and in the  case of inactively  traded Bonds such
difference usually will not exceed 3%.
 
    The right  of redemption  may be  suspended and  payment postponed  for  any
period  during  which the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  determines that
trading in the municipal bond market is restricted or an emergency exists, as  a
result  of  which  disposal  or  evaluation  of  the  Bonds  is  not  reasonably
practicable, or for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission
may by order permit.
 
    Under regulations issued by the  Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee  will
be required to withhold a specified percentage of the principal amount of a Unit
redemption  if the Trustee has not been furnished the redeeming Unitholder's tax
identification number in the manner required by such regulations. Any amount  so
withheld  is transmitted to the Internal Revenue Service and may be recovered by
the  Unitholder  only  when  filing  his   or  her  tax  return.  Under   normal
circumstances  the Trustee  obtains the  Unitholder's tax  identification number
from the  selling  broker at  the  time the  Certificate  or Book  Entry  Return
Confirmation  is issued, and this  number is printed on  the Certificate or Book
Entry Return Confirmation and on distribution statements. If a Unitholder's  tax
identification number does not appear as described above, or if it is incorrect,
the  Unitholder should contact  the Trustee before  redeeming Units to determine
what action, if any, is required to avoid this "back-up withholding."
 
HOW UNITS MAY BE PURCHASED BY THE SPONSOR
 
The Trustee will notify the  Sponsor of any tender  of Units for redemption.  If
the  Sponsor's bid in  the secondary market  at that time  equals or exceeds the
Redemption Price it may purchase such Units by notifying the Trustee before  the
close  of business on the  second succeeding business day  and by making payment
therefor to  the  Unitholder not  later  than the  day  on which  payment  would
otherwise have been made by the Trustee. (See "HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT
CHARGE.")  The Sponsor's current practice  is to bid at  the Redemption Price in
the secondary market. Units held by the  Sponsor may be tendered to the  Trustee
for redemption as any other Units.
 
HOW BONDS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUSTS
 
Bonds will be removed from a Trust as they mature or are redeemed by the issuers
thereof.  See Part A of  this Prospectus and "RISK  FACTORS" for a discussion of
call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
    The Indenture also  empowers the Trustee  to sell Bonds  for the purpose  of
redeeming  Units tendered by any Unitholder, and for the payment of expenses for
which income may not be available. Under the Indenture the Sponsor is  obligated
to  provide the Trustee with a current list of Bonds in each Trust to be sold in
such circumstances. In deciding which Bonds  should be sold the Sponsor  intends
to  consider, among  other things, such  factors as: (1)  market conditions; (2)
market  prices  of  the  Bonds;  (3)  the  effect  on  income  distributions  to
Unitholders  of the sale of various Bonds; (4) the effect on principal amount of
underlying Bonds  per Unit  of the  sale  of various  Bonds; (5)  the  financial
condition of the issuers; and (6) the effect of the sale of various Bonds on the
investment  character of the Trust. Such sales, if required, could result in the
sale of Bonds by the Trustee at prices less than original cost to the Trust.  To
the extent Bonds are sold, the size and diversity of such Trust will be reduced.
 
    In  addition, the  Sponsor is empowered  to direct the  Trustee to liquidate
Bonds upon the happening of certain other events, such as default in the payment
of principal and/or interest, an action of the issuer that will adversely affect
its ability to continue payment of the  principal of and interest on its  Bonds,
or  an  adverse  change  in  market, revenue  or  credit  factors  affecting the
investment character of the Bonds. If a default in the payment of the  principal
of  and/or interest  on any  of the Bonds  occurs, and  if the  Sponsor fails to
instruct the Trustee whether to  sell or continue to  hold such Bonds within  30
days  after notification  by the  Trustee to  the Sponsor  of such  default, the
Indenture provides that  the Trustee  shall liquidate said  Bonds forthwith  and
shall  not be liable for  any loss so incurred. The  Sponsor may also direct the
Trustee to liquidate Bonds in a Trust if the Bonds in the Trust are the  subject
of  an advanced refunding,  generally considered to be  when refunding bonds are
issued and the proceeds thereof are deposited in irrevocable trust to retire the
refunded Bonds on their redemption date.
 
    Except as stated in "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS" regarding the limited right  of
substitution  of Replacement  Bonds for Failed  Bonds, and  except for refunding
securities that may be exchanged for Bonds under certain conditions specified in
the Indenture, the Indenture does not  permit either the Sponsor or the  Trustee
to  acquire or deposit bonds either in  addition to, or in substitution for, any
of the Bonds initially deposited in a Trust.
 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUSTEE
 
The Trustee and its address are stated on  the back cover of this Part B of  the
Prospectus. The Trustee is subject to supervision and examination by the Federal
Deposit  Insurance Corporation,  the Board of  Governors of  the Federal Reserve
System and either the Comptroller of the Currency or state banking authorities.
 
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITIES OF SPONSOR AND TRUSTEE
 
    The Sponsor and the Trustee shall  be under no liability to Unitholders  for
taking  any action or for  refraining from any action  in good faith pursuant to
the Indenture, or for errors in judgment, but shall be liable only for their own
negligence, lack of good faith or  willful misconduct. The Trustee shall not  be
liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the Trustee of
any  of the Bonds. In the  event of the failure of  the Sponsor to act under the
Indenture, the Trustee may act thereunder and shall not be liable for any action
taken by it in good faith under the Indenture.
 
    The Trustee shall not be liable for any taxes or other governmental  charges
imposed  upon or in respect of the Bonds or upon the interest thereon or upon it
as Trustee under  the Indenture or  upon or in  respect of any  Trust which  the
Trustee  may be required  to pay under any  present or future  law of the United
States of  America or  of any  other taxing  authority having  jurisdiction.  In
addition,  the  Indenture  contains  other  customary  provisions  limiting  the
liability of the Trustee.
 
SUCCESSOR TRUSTEES AND SPONSORS
 
    The Trustee or any successor trustee  may resign by executing an  instrument
of resignation in writing and filing same with the Sponsor and mailing a copy of
a  notice of resignation to all Unitholders  then of record. Upon receiving such
notice, the Sponsor is required to promptly appoint a successor trustee. If  the
Trustee becomes incapable of acting or is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a
receiver  or other public officer shall take  charge of its property or affairs,
the  Sponsor  may  remove  the  Trustee  and  appoint  a  successor  by  written
instrument.  The resignation or  removal of a  trustee and the  appointment of a
successor trustee shall become effective only when the successor trustee accepts
its appointment as such. Any successor trustee shall be a corporation authorized
to exercise  corporate  trust  powers, having  capital,  surplus  and  undivided
profits of not less than $5,000,000. Any corporation into which a trustee may be
merged  or with which it may be  consolidated, or any corporation resulting from
any merger or consolidation to  which a trustee shall be  a party, shall be  the
successor trustee.
 
    If  upon resignation of  a trustee no  successor has been  appointed and has
accepted the appointment within 30 days after notification, the retiring trustee
may apply  to  a  court of  competent  jurisdiction  for the  appointment  of  a
successor.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    If the Sponsor fails to undertake any of its duties under the Indenture, and
no  express  provision is  made for  action by  the Trustee  in such  event, the
Trustee may, in addition to its other  powers under the Indenture (1) appoint  a
successor sponsor or (2) terminate the Indenture and liquidate the Trusts.
 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Sponsor and Underwriter, was founded in 1898
and  is  the oldest  and  largest investment  banking  firm specializing  in the
underwriting and distribution of tax-exempt securities and maintains the largest
research department in the investment  banking community devoted exclusively  to
the  analysis of municipal securities. In  1961 the Sponsor began sponsoring the
Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust and, since this  time, it has issued more than  $30
billion  in tax-exempt unit trusts, including over $8 billion in insured trusts.
The Sponsor is also principal underwriter  of 16 mutual funds and 60  closed-end
funds.  These registered open-end and  closed-end investment companies currently
have approximately  $32.8 billion  in  tax-exempt securities  under  management.
Nationwide, more than 1,000,000 individual investors have purchased Nuveen's tax
exempt  trusts and  funds. The  present corporation was  organized in  1967 as a
wholly-owned subsidiary of  Nuveen Corporation, successor  to the original  John
Nuveen  & Co. founded in 1898 as a sole proprietorship and incorporated in 1953.
In 1974, John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated became a wholly-owned subsidiary of  The
St. Paul Companies, Inc., a financial services management company located in St.
Paul,  Minnesota. On May 19, 1992,  common shares comprising a minority interest
in The John Nuveen  Company ("JNC"), a newly  organized corporation which  holds
all  of the  shares of  Nuveen, were sold  to the  general public  in an initial
public offering. St. Paul retains a controlling interest in JNC with over 70% of
JNC's shares. The Sponsor is a member of the National Association of  Securities
Dealers,  Inc. and  the Securities  Industry Association  and has  its principal
offices located in Chicago (333 W. Wacker Drive) and New York (Swiss Bank Tower,
10 East 50th Street). It maintains 14 regional offices.
 
    To help advisers and investors better understand and more efficiently use an
investment in  the  Trust to  reach  their  investment goals,  the  Sponsor  may
advertise and create specific investment programs and systems. For example, such
activities may include presenting information on how to use an investment in the
Trust,  alone or in combination with an investment in other mutual funds or unit
investment trusts sponsored by Nuveen, to accumulate assets for future education
needs or periodic payments such as  insurance premiums. The Trust's sponsor  may
produce  software or  additional sales literature  to promote  the advantages of
using the Trust to meet these and other specific investor needs.
 
OTHER INFORMATION
AMENDMENT OF INDENTURE
 
    The Indenture may  be amended  by the Trustee  and the  Sponsor without  the
consent  of any of  the Unitholders (1) to  cure any ambiguity  or to correct or
supplement any provision thereof which may be defective or inconsistent, or  (2)
to  make such  other provisions as  shall not adversely  affect the Unitholders,
provided, however, that the Indenture may not be amended to increase the  number
of Units in any Trust or to permit the deposit or acquisition of bonds either in
addition  to, or in substitution for any of the Bonds initially deposited in any
Trust except as stated in "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS" regarding the limited right of
substitution of Replacement Bonds and  except for the substitution of  refunding
bonds  under certain circumstances. The Trustee  shall advise the Unitholders of
any amendment promptly after execution thereof.
 
TERMINATION OF INDENTURE
 
    Each Trust may be liquidated at any  time by written consent of 100% of  the
Unitholders  or by  the Trustee when  the value of  such Trust, as  shown by any
evaluation, is less than 20% of the original principal amount of such Trust  and
will  be  liquidated  by  the Trustee  in  the  event that  Units  not  yet sold
aggregating more  than 60%  of the  Units originally  created are  tendered  for
redemption  by the Sponsor thereby reducing the  net worth of such Trust to less
than 40%  of the  principal amount  of  the Bonds  originally deposited  in  the
portfolio. (See "Essential Information" appearing in Part A of this Prospectus.)
The  sale of Bonds from the Trusts upon termination may result in realization of
a lesser amount than might otherwise be realized if such sale were not  required
at such time. For this reason, among others, the amount realized by a Unitholder
upon  termination  may be  less than  the principal  amount of  Bonds originally
represented by the Units held by  such Unitholder. The Indenture will  terminate
upon the redemption, sale or other disposition of the last Bond held thereunder,
but  in no event shall it continue beyond the end of the calendar year preceding
the fiftieth anniversary of its execution for National and State Trusts,  beyond
the  end  of  the  calendar  year preceding  the  twentieth  anniversary  of its
execution for Long Intermediate,  and Intermediate Trusts or  beyond the end  of
the  calendar year  preceding the tenth  anniversary of its  execution for Short
Intermediate and Short Term Trusts.
 
    Written notice of  any termination  specifying the  time or  times at  which
Unitholders  may surrender their Certificates, if any, for cancellation shall be
given by  the  Trustee  to each  Unitholder  at  the address  appearing  on  the
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
registration  books of the Trust maintained  by the Trustee. Within a reasonable
time thereafter the Trustee shall liquidate any Bonds in the Trust then held and
shall deduct  from  the assets  of  the Trust  any  accrued costs,  expenses  or
indemnities  provided  by  the  Indenture which  are  allocable  to  such Trust,
including estimated compensation of the Trustee and costs of liquidation and any
amounts required as a reserve to provide for payment of any applicable taxes  or
other  governmental charges. The Trustee shall then distribute to Unitholders of
such Trust their pro  rata share of  the balance of  the Interest and  Principal
Accounts.  With such  distribution the  Unitholders shall  be furnished  a final
distribution  statement,  in   substantially  the  same   form  as  the   annual
distribution statement, of the amount distributable. At such time as the Trustee
in  its sole discretion shall determine that  any amounts held in reserve are no
longer necessary, it shall make distribution thereof to Unitholders in the  same
manner.
 
LEGAL OPINION
 
    The legality of the Units offered hereby has been passed upon by Chapman and
Cutler, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. Special counsel for the
Trusts for respective state tax matters are named in "Tax Status" for each Trust
appearing  in  Part A  of this  Prospectus.  Carter, Ledyard  & Milburn,  2 Wall
Street, New York,  New York 10005,  has acted  as counsel for  the Trustee  with
respect  to the Series, and, in the absence of a New York Trust from the Series,
as special New York tax counsel for the Series.
 
AUDITORS
 
    The "Statement  of  Condition" and  "Schedule  of Investments"  at  Date  of
Deposit  included  in Part  A of  this  Prospectus have  been audited  by Arthur
Andersen LLP, independent public  accountants, as indicated  in their report  in
Part  A  of  this Prospectus,  and  are  included herein  in  reliance  upon the
authority of said firm as experts in giving said report.
 
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
 
    Upon written or telephonic request to the Trustee, investors will receive at
no cost to  the investor supplemental  information about this  Trust, which  has
been  filed  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  and is  intended to
supplement information contained in  Part A and Part  B of this Prospectus.  The
supplemental  information includes more  detailed information concerning certain
of the Bonds included in the Trusts contained in the applicable Series and  more
specific   risk  information  concerning  the   individual  state  Trusts.  This
supplement also includes  additional general information  about the Sponsor  and
the Trusts.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                         NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
   
                              PROSPECTUS -- PART B
                               SEPTEMBER 1, 1995
    
 
<TABLE>
<C>                       <S>        <C>
                 SPONSOR             John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
                                     333 West Wacker Drive
                                     Chicago, IL 60606-1286
                                     Telephone: 312.917.7700
 
                                     Swiss Bank Tower
                                     10 East 50th Street
                                     New York, NY 10022
                                     212.207.2000
 
                 TRUSTEE             The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                                     770 Broadway
                                     New York, NY 10003
                                     800.257.8787
 
           LEGAL COUNSEL             Chapman and Cutler
              TO SPONSOR             111 West Monroe Street
                                     Chicago, IL 60603
 
             INDEPENDENT             Arthur Andersen LLP
                  PUBLIC             33 West Monroe Street
             ACCOUNTANTS             Chicago, IL 60603
          FOR THE TRUSTS
</TABLE>
 
                                 --------------
 
           Except  as to  statements made herein  furnished by  the Trustee, the
Trustee  has  assumed   no  responsibility  for   the  accuracy,  adequacy   and
completeness of the information contained in this Prospectus.
 
           This  Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in
the registration  statement  and  exhibits  relating  thereto,  filed  with  the
Securities  and Exchange Commission, Washington,  D.C., under the Securities Act
of 1933, and to which reference is made.
 
           No  person  is  authorized  to  give  any  information  or  to   make
representations  not contained in this Prospectus or in supplemental information
or  sales  literature  prepared   by  the  Sponsor,   and  any  information   or
representation  not contained  therein must  not be  relied upon  as having been
authorized by either  the Trusts, the  Trustee or the  Sponsor. This  Prospectus
does  not constitute  an offer to  sell, or a  solicitation of an  offer to buy,
securities in any  State to any  person to whom  it is not  lawful to make  such
offer  in such state. The Trusts are registered as a Unit Investment Trust under
the Investment Company Act  of 1940. Such registration  does not imply that  the
Trusts  or any  of their  Units has  been guaranteed,  sponsored, recommended or
approved by the United States or any State or agency or officer thereof.


<PAGE>
                          NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUSTS
 
                 ---------------------------------------------
 
                             INFORMATION SUPPLEMENT
 
   
                               NUVEEN SERIES 875
    
 
   
                This   Information  Supplement  provides  additional
            information concerning  the  structure,  operations  and
            risks  of a Nuveen Tax-Free Unit  Trust not found in the
            prospectuses for the Trusts. This Information Supplement
            is not  a prospectus  and does  not include  all of  the
            information  that a prospective investor should consider
            before investing in a Trust. This Information Supplement
            should be read  in conjunction with  the prospectus  for
            the  Trust in which an investor is considering investing
            ("Prospectus"). Copies of the Prospectus can be obtained
            by calling  or  writing  the Trustee  at  the  telephone
            number   and  address   indicated  in  Part   B  of  the
            Prospectus. This Information Supplement has been created
            to supplement information contained in the Prospectus.
    
 
   
                This Information Supplement is dated July 11,  1996.
            Capitalized terms have been defined in the Prospectus.
    
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
               --------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                           <C>
GENERAL RISK DISCLOSURE.....................................................           2
  Health Facility Obligations...............................................           2
  Housing Obligations.......................................................           2
  Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds......................................           2
  Federally Enhanced Obligations............................................           3
  Industrial Revenue Obligations............................................           3
  Electric Utility Obligations..............................................           3
  Transportation Facility Revenue Bonds.....................................           4
  Water and/or Sewerage Obligations.........................................           4
  University and College Revenue Obligations................................           4
  Bridge Authority and Tollroad Obligations.................................           4
  Dedicated-Tax Supported Bonds.............................................           4
  Municipal Lease Bonds.....................................................           5
  Original Issue Discount Bonds and Stripped Obligations....................           5
WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?..........................................           6
ACCUMULATION PLAN...........................................................           8
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR...............................................          10
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS......................................................          11
HOW THE TRUST COMPARES PERFORMANCE..........................................          13
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME......................................          14
Appendix A -- Intermediate Disclosure.......................................         A-1
Appendix B -- Colorado Disclosure...........................................         B-1
Appendix C -- Georgia Disclosure............................................         C-1
Appendix D -- Massachusetts Disclosure......................................         D-1
Appendix E -- New Jersey Disclosure.........................................         E-1
Appendix F -- Ohio Disclosure...............................................         F-1
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
GENERAL RISK DISCLOSURE
 
    An  investment in Units of any Trust should be made with an understanding of
the risks that such an investment may  entail. These include the ability of  the
issuer,  or,  if  applicable,  an  insurer, to  make  payments  of  interest and
principal when due, the  effects of changes in  interest rates generally,  early
call provisions and the potential for changes in the tax status of the Bonds. As
set  forth in the portfolio  summaries in Part A  of this Prospectus, the Trusts
may contain or be concentrated  in one or more of  the types of bonds  discussed
below.   The  following  paragraphs  discuss  certain  circumstances  which  may
adversely affect the  ability of issuers  of Bonds  held in the  portfolio of  a
Trust  to make payment of principal and  interest thereon or which may adversely
affect the  ratings of  such Bonds;  with respect  to Insured  Trusts,  however,
because of the insurance obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of the Bonds,
such changes should not adversely affect an Insured Trust's receipt of principal
and  interest, the Standard & Poor's AAA or  Moody's Aaa ratings of the Bonds in
the Insured Trust portfolio, or the Standard & Poor's AAA rating of the Units of
each such Insured Trust. For economic  risks specific to the individual  Trusts,
see "Risk Factors" for each Trust.
 
    HEALTH  FACILITY  OBLIGATIONS.    Some  of  the  Bonds  in  a  Trust  may be
obligations of  issuers whose  revenues are  derived from  services provided  by
hospitals  or other health care facilities,  including nursing homes. Ratings of
bonds issued  for health  care  facilities are  sometimes based  on  feasibility
studies  that contain projections of occupancy  levels, revenues and expenses. A
facility's gross  receipts and  net income  available for  debt service  may  be
affected  by future events and conditions  including, among other things, demand
for services, the ability of the  facility to provide the services required,  an
increasing  shortage of qualified nurses or a dramatic rise in nursing salaries,
physicians'  confidence  in  the  facility,  management  capabilities,  economic
developments  in  the service  area, competition  from other  similar providers,
efforts by  insurers  and  governmental agencies  to  limit  rates,  legislation
establishing  state rate-setting agencies,  expenses, government regulation, the
cost and possible unavailability of  malpractice insurance, and the  termination
or  restriction of governmental financial  assistance, including that associated
with Medicare, Medicaid and other  similar third party payor programs.  Medicare
reimbursements are currently calculated on a prospective basis and are not based
on  a provider's actual costs. Such method of reimbursement may adversely affect
reimbursements to hospitals and other facilities for services provided under the
Medicare program and thereby may have an  adverse effect on the ability of  such
institutions  to satisfy  debt service requirements.  In the event  of a default
upon a bond  secured by hospital  facilities, the limited  alternative uses  for
such  facilities may result  in the recovery upon  such collateral not providing
sufficient funds to fully repay the bonds.
 
    Certain hospital  bonds  provide for  redemption  at par  upon  the  damage,
destruction  or  condemnation of  the hospital  facilities  or in  other special
circumstances.
 
    HOUSING OBLIGATIONS.  Some  of the Bonds  in a Trust  may be obligations  of
issuers  whose revenues  are primarily  derived from  mortgage loans  to housing
projects for  low  to  moderate  income  families.  Such  issues  are  generally
characterized  by mandatory redemption at par or,  in the case of original issue
discount bonds, accreted  value in  the event of  economic defaults  and in  the
event of a failure of the operator of a project to comply with certain covenants
as  to the operation of the project. The failure of such operator to comply with
certain covenants related  to the tax-exempt  status of interest  on the  Bonds,
such  as provisions requiring that a specified  percentage of units be rented or
available for rental to low or moderate income families, potentially could cause
interest on such Bonds to be subject to Federal income taxation from the date of
issuance of the Bonds. The ability of such issuers to make debt service payments
will  be  affected  by  events  and  conditions  affecting  financed   projects,
including,  among other  things, the  achievement and  maintenance of sufficient
occupancy levels and  adequate rental income,  employment and income  conditions
prevailing  in local labor markets, increases  in taxes, utility costs and other
operating expenses, the managerial ability of project managers, changes in  laws
and  governmental regulations,  the appropriation  of subsidies,  and social and
economic trends  affecting the  localities in  which the  projects are  located.
Occupancy of such housing projects may be adversely affected by high rent levels
and income limitations imposed under Federal and state programs.
 
    SINGLE  FAMILY MORTGAGE REVENUE BONDS.  Some of  the Bonds in a Trust may be
single family  mortgage revenue  bonds,  which are  issued  for the  purpose  of
acquiring  from originating financial institutions notes secured by mortgages on
residences located within the issuer's boundaries and owned by persons of low or
moderate income. Mortgage  loans are generally  partially or completely  prepaid
prior  to their  final maturities  as a  result of  events such  as sale  of the
mortgaged premises, default, condemnation or casualty loss. Because these  bonds
are  subject to extraordinary mandatory redemption in whole or in part from such
prepayments of mortgage loans, a substantial portion of such bonds will probably
be redeemed prior to their scheduled maturities or even prior to their  ordinary
call dates. Extraordinary mandatory redemption without premium could also result
from  the failure  of the  originating financial  institutions to  make mortgage
loans  in   sufficient   amounts   within   a   specified   time   period.   The
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
redemption  price of such issues may be more  or less than the offering price of
such bonds.  Additionally, unusually  high rates  of default  on the  underlying
mortgage  loans may reduce revenues available for the payment of principal of or
interest on such mortgage  revenue bonds. Single  family mortgage revenue  bonds
issued  after December 31, 1980  were issued under Section  103A of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or Section 143 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, which Sections  contain certain requirements  relating to the  use of  the
proceeds  of such bonds  in order for the  interest on such  bonds to retain its
tax-exempt status.  In each  case, the  issuer of  the bonds  has covenanted  to
comply  with applicable requirements and bond  counsel to such issuer has issued
an opinion that  the interest on  the bonds  is exempt from  Federal income  tax
under  existing  laws  and regulations.  There  can  be no  assurance  that such
continuing requirements will be satisfied; the failure to meet such requirements
could cause interest  on the  Bonds to be  subject to  Federal income  taxation,
possibly from the date of issuance of the Bonds.
 
    FEDERALLY  ENHANCED OBLIGATIONS.   Some  of the  mortgages which  secure the
various health care or housing projects which underlie the previously  discussed
Health  Facility, Housing, and  Single Family Mortgage  Revenue Obligations (the
"Obligations") in a Trust may be  insured by the Federal Housing  Administration
("FHA").  Under FHA  regulations, the  maximum insurable  mortgage amount cannot
exceed 90%  of  the FHA's  estimated  value of  the  project. The  FHA  mortgage
insurance  does not constitute a guarantee of timely payment of the principal of
and interest on the Obligations. Payment  of mortgage insurance benefits may  be
(1)  less than the principal amount of Obligations outstanding or (2) delayed if
disputes arise as to  the amount of  the payment or if  certain notices are  not
given  to the FHA within  the prescribed time periods.  In addition, some of the
previously discussed Obligations may be secured by mortgage-backed  certificates
guaranteed  by the Government  National Mortgage Association  ("GNMA"), a wholly
owned corporate  instrumentality  of  the  United  States,  and/or  the  Federal
National   Mortgage  Association  ("Fannie  Mae")   a  federally  chartered  and
stockholder-owed corporation. GNMA  and Fannie Mae  guarantee timely payment  of
principal  and  interest on  the  mortgage-backed certificates,  even  where the
underlying  mortgage  payments   are  not  made.   While  such   mortgage-backed
certificates  are often pledged  to secure payment of  principal and interest on
the Obligations, timely payment of interest and principal on the Obligations  is
not  insured or guaranteed by  the United States, GNMA,  Fannie Mae or any other
governmental agency or  instrumentality. The  GNMA mortgage-backed  certificates
constitute  a general obligation of  the United States backed  by its full faith
and credit. The obligations of Fannie  Mae, including its obligations under  the
Fannie  Mae mortgage-backed securities, are obligations solely of Fannie Mae and
are not backed  by, or  entitled to,  the full faith  and credit  of the  United
States.
 
    INDUSTRIAL  REVENUE OBLIGATIONS.   Certain  of the Bonds  in a  Trust may be
industrial revenue bonds  ("IRBs"), including pollution  control revenue  bonds,
which  are  tax-exempt  securities  issued  by  states,  municipalities,  public
authorities or similar entities to  finance the cost of acquiring,  constructing
or improving various industrial projects. These projects are usually operated by
corporate entities. Issuers are obligated only to pay amounts due on the IRBs to
the  extent that funds are available from the unexpended proceeds of the IRBs or
receipts or revenues of the issuer  under an arrangement between the issuer  and
the  corporate operator of  a project. The arrangement  may be in  the form of a
lease, installment sale agreement, conditional sale agreement or loan agreement,
but in each case  the payments to  the issuer are designed  to be sufficient  to
meet  the payments  of amounts  due on  the IRBs.  Regardless of  the structure,
payment of IRBs is solely dependent  upon the creditworthiness of the  corporate
operator  of  the project  and,  if applicable,  corporate  guarantor. Corporate
operators or  guarantors may  be affected  by  many factors  which may  have  an
adverse  impact on  the credit  quality of  the particular  company or industry.
These include cyclicality of revenues and earnings, regulatory and environmental
restrictions, litigation  resulting  from  accidents  or  environmentally-caused
illnesses,  extensive competition  and financial deterioration  resulting from a
corporate restructuring pursuant to a leveraged buy-out, takeover or  otherwise.
Such  a restructuring may  result in the  operator of a  project becoming highly
leveraged which may have an impact on such operator's creditworthiness which  in
turn  would have  an adverse impact  on the  rating and/or market  value of such
Bonds. Further, the  possibility of  such a  restructuring may  have an  adverse
impact  on the market for and consequently  the value of such Bonds, even though
no actual takeover or other action is ever contemplated or effected. The IRBs in
a Trust may be subject to  special or extraordinary redemption provisions  which
may  provide for redemption  at par or,  in the case  of original issue discount
bonds, accreted value. The  Sponsor cannot predict the  causes or likelihood  of
the redemption of IRBs in a Trust prior to the stated maturity of such Bonds.
 
    ELECTRIC  UTILITY  OBLIGATIONS.    Some  of the  Bonds  in  a  Trust  may be
obligations of issuers  whose revenues are  primarily derived from  the sale  of
electric  energy. The problems  faced by such issuers  include the difficulty in
obtaining approval for timely  and adequate rate  increases from the  applicable
public  utility  commissions,  the difficulty  of  financing  large construction
programs, increased competition,  reductions in estimates  of future demand  for
electricity  in certain areas of the  country, the limitations on operations and
increased costs and delays
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
attributable to  environmental considerations,  the  difficulty of  the  capital
market in absorbing utility debt, the difficulty in obtaining fuel at reasonable
prices  and the  effect of  energy conservation. All  of such  issuers have been
experiencing certain of these problems in varying degrees. In addition, Federal,
state and  municipal  governmental authorities  may  from time  to  time  review
existing,   and   impose  additional,   regulations  governing   the  licensing,
construction and operation of nuclear  power plants, which may adversely  affect
the  ability of the issuers of certain of  the Bonds in a Trust to make payments
of principal and/or interest on such Bonds.
 
    TRANSPORTATION FACILITY REVENUE BONDS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may  be
obligations  of issuers which  are payable from and  secured by revenues derived
from the ownership and operation of airports, public transit systems and  ports.
The  major portion of  an airport's gross operating  income is generally derived
from fees received  from airlines pursuant  to use agreements  which consist  of
annual  payments for airport  use, occupancy of  certain terminal space, service
fees and  leases. Airport  operating income  may therefore  be affected  by  the
ability  of the airlines to meet their obligations under the use agreements. The
air transport industry  is experiencing significant  variations in earnings  and
traffic,  due  to  increased  competition,  excess  capacity,  increased  costs,
deregulation, traffic constraints  and other factors,  and several airlines  are
experiencing  severe financial difficulties. In  particular, facilities with use
agreements involving airlines experiencing financial difficulty may experience a
reduction in revenue  due to the  possible inability of  these airlines to  meet
their  use  agreement obligations  because  of such  financial  difficulties and
possible bankruptcy.  The  Sponsor cannot  predict  what effect  these  industry
conditions  may have on airport revenues which  are dependent for payment on the
financial condition of the  airlines and their usage  of the particular  airport
facility.  Bonds that are secured primarily by the revenue collected by a public
transit system  typically are  additionally secured  by a  pledge of  sales  tax
receipts  collected  at  the state  or  local  level, or  of  other governmental
financial assistance. Transit system net revenues will be affected by variations
in  utilization,  which  in  turn  may  be  affected  by  the  degree  of  local
governmental  subsidization, demographic and  population shifts, and competition
from other  forms of  transportation; and  by increased  costs, including  costs
resulting  from previous deferrals of maintenance. Port authorities derive their
revenues primarily from fees imposed on ships using the facilities. The rate  of
utilization  of such facilities may fluctuate depending on the local economy and
on competition from  competing forms  of transportation  such as  air, rail  and
trucks.
 
    WATER  AND/OR SEWERAGE  OBLIGATIONS.  Some  of the  Bonds in a  Trust may be
obligations of issuers whose revenues are derived from the sale of water  and/or
sewerage services. Such Bonds are generally payable from user fees. The problems
of  such  issuers  include  the  ability  to  obtain  timely  and  adequate rate
increases, population decline resulting in  decreased user fees, the  difficulty
of  financing  large construction  programs, the  limitations on  operations and
increased costs  and delays  attributable to  environmental considerations,  the
increasing  difficulty of obtaining or discovering  new supplies of fresh water,
the effect  of  conservation  programs  and the  impact  of  "no-growth"  zoning
ordinances. All of such issuers have been experiencing certain of these problems
in varying degrees.
 
    UNIVERSITY  AND COLLEGE REVENUE OBLIGATIONS.   Some of the  Bonds in a Trust
may be  obligations of  issuers which  are, or  which govern  the operation  of,
colleges  and universities and  whose revenues are  derived mainly from tuition,
dormitory revenues,  grants and  endowments. General  problems of  such  issuers
include  the prospect of a declining  percentage of the population consisting of
"college" age  individuals,  possible  inability  to  raise  tuitions  and  fees
sufficiently  to cover increased  operating costs, the  uncertainty of continued
receipt of  Federal grants  and  state funding,  and government  legislation  or
regulations  which may adversely  affect the revenues or  costs of such issuers.
All of such issuers have been experiencing certain of these problems in  varying
degrees.
 
    BRIDGE AUTHORITY AND TOLLROAD OBLIGATIONS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may
be  obligations  of issuers  which derive  their payments  from bridge,  road or
tunnel toll revenues. The revenues of such an issuer could be adversely affected
by competition from toll-free vehicular bridges and roads and alternative  modes
of transportation. Such revenues could also be adversely affected by a reduction
in  the availability of fuel to motorists  or significant increases in the costs
thereof. Specifically, governmental regulations restricting the use of  vehicles
in  the New  York City  metropolitan area may  adversely affect  revenues of the
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
 
    DEDICATED-TAX SUPPORTED  BONDS.    Some of  the  Bonds  in a  Trust  may  be
obligations of issuers which are payable from and secured by tax revenues from a
designated  source, which revenues are pledged  to secure the bonds. The various
types of  Bonds described  below differ  in structure  and with  respect to  the
rights of the bondholders to the underlying property. Each type of dedicated-tax
supported  Bond has distinct risks, only some  of which are set forth below. One
type of dedicated-tax supported Bond is secured by the incremental tax  received
on  either real property or on  sales within a specifically defined geographical
area; such  tax  generally will  not  provide bondholders  with  a lien  on  the
underlying property or revenues. Another type of dedicated-tax supported Bond is
secured  by a special tax levied on  real property within a defined geographical
area in such  a manner  that the tax  is levied  on those who  benefit from  the
project;   such  bonds   typically  provide   for  a   statutory  lien   on  the
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
underlying property for unpaid  taxes. A third  type of dedicated-tax  supported
Bond may be secured by a tax levied upon the manufacture, sale or consumption of
commodities  or upon the license to pursue certain occupations or upon corporate
privileges within a taxing jurisdiction. As to any of these types of Bonds,  the
ability  of  the  designated  revenues to  satisfy  the  interest  and principal
payments on such  bonds may be  affected by  changes in the  local economy,  the
financial  success of the  enterprise responsible for the  payment of the taxes,
the value of  any property on  which taxes may  be assessed and  the ability  to
collect  such  taxes in  a timely  fashion. Each  of these  factors will  have a
different affect on each distinct type of dedicated-tax supported bonds.
 
    MUNICIPAL LEASE BONDS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may be obligations that
are secured  by lease  payments  of a  governmental  entity. Such  payments  are
normally  subject to  annual budget  appropriations of  the leasing governmental
entity. A governmental  entity that enters  into such a  lease agreement  cannot
obligate  future  governments to  appropriate for  and  make lease  payments but
covenants to take such action as is necessary to include any lease payments  due
in  its budgets and to make the appropriations therefor. A governmental entity's
failure to appropriate for and to make payments under its lease obligation could
result in insufficient funds  available for payment  of the obligations  secured
thereby.
 
    ORIGINAL  ISSUE DISCOUNT  BONDS AND  STRIPPED OBLIGATIONS.   Certain  of the
Bonds in a Trust may be original  issue discount bonds. These Bonds were  issued
with  nominal  interest rates  less than  the rates  then offered  by comparable
securities and as a  consequence were originally sold  at a discount from  their
face,  or par, values. This original  issue discount, the difference between the
initial purchase price and face value, is deemed under current law to accrue  on
a  daily basis and the accrued portion  is treated as tax-exempt interest income
for federal income tax purposes. On  sale or redemption, gain, if any,  realized
in  excess of the earned  portion of original issue  discount will be taxable as
capital gain. See "What is the Tax Status of Unitholders". The current value  of
an original issue discount bond reflects the present value of its face amount at
maturity. In a stable interest rate environment, the market value of an original
issue  discount bond would  tend to increase  more slowly in  early years and in
greater increments as the bond approached maturity.
 
    Certain of the original issue discount bonds  in a Trust may be zero  coupon
bonds. Zero coupon bonds do not provide for the payment of any current interest;
the  buyer receives only the right to receive a final payment of the face amount
of the bond at its maturity. The effect  of owning a zero coupon bond is that  a
fixed  yield is earned not only on  the original investment but also, in effect,
on all  discount  earned  during  the life  of  the  obligation.  This  implicit
reinvestment of earnings at the same rate eliminates the risk of being unable to
reinvest  the income on such obligation at a rate as high as the implicit yield,
but at the same time also eliminates the holder's ability to reinvest at  higher
rates  in  the  future.  For  this reason,  zero  coupon  bonds  are  subject to
substantially greater  price  fluctuations  during periods  of  changing  market
interest  rates  than are  securities of  comparable  quality that  pay interest
currently.
 
    Original issue discount bonds, including  zero coupon bonds, may be  subject
to  redemption at prices  based on the  issue price plus  the amount of original
issue  discount  accreted  to  redemption   (the  "accreted  value")  plus,   if
applicable,  some premium.  Pursuant to such  call provisions  an original issue
discount bond may be called prior to its maturity date at a price less than  its
face  value. See the  "Schedules of Investments" for  more information about the
call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
    Certain of the Bonds in a Trust may be Stripped Obligations, which represent
evidences of  ownership with  respect to  either the  principal amount  of or  a
payment  of interest on a tax-exempt  obligation. An obligation is "stripped" by
depositing it with  a custodian, which  then effects a  separation in  ownership
between  the bond and any interest payment which has not yet become payable, and
issues evidences of ownership with respect to such constituent parts. A Stripped
Obligation therefore has economic characteristics similar to zero coupon  bonds,
as described above.
 
    Each  Stripped Obligation has  been purchased at a  discount from the amount
payable at maturity. With respect to each Unitholder, the Internal Revenue  Code
treats  as "original issue discount" that portion of the discount which produces
a yield to maturity (as of the date of purchase of the Unitholder's Units) equal
to the lower of the coupon rate of interest on the underlying obligation or  the
yield  to maturity on the basis of  the purchase price of the Unitholder's Units
which is allocable to  each Stripped Obligation.  Original issue discount  which
accrues with respect to a Stripped Obligation will be exempt from Federal income
taxation  to the  same extent  as interest  on the  underlying obligations. (See
"WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
    Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the  state
and  local tax consequences of owning  original issue discount bonds or Stripped
Obligations. Under applicable  provisions governing determination  of state  and
local  taxes, interest on original issue  discount bonds or Stripped Obligations
may be deemed  to be received  in the year  of accrual even  though there is  no
corresponding cash payment.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?
 
INSURANCE ON BONDS
 
INSURED  TRUSTS--The Insurer's policy unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees
the full and complete payment required to be made by or on behalf of the  Issuer
to  the Paying Agent or its successor of an amount equal to (i) the principal of
(either at the stated maturity  or by an advancement  of maturity pursuant to  a
mandatory  sinking fund  payment) and  interest on,  the Bonds  as such payments
shall become due  but shall  not be so  paid (except  that in the  event of  any
acceleration  of  the due  date  of such  principal  by reason  of  mandatory or
optional redemption or acceleration resulting  from default or otherwise,  other
than  any advancement of maturity pursuant  to a mandatory sinking fund payment,
the payments guaranteed by  the Insurer's policy shall  be made in such  amounts
and  at such times as  such payments of principal would  have been due had there
not been any such acceleration); and (ii) the reimbursement of any such  payment
which  is subsequently removed from  any owner of the  Bonds purusant to a final
judgment by a court of competent  jurisdiction that such payment constitutes  an
avoidable  preference  to  such  owner  within  the  meaning  of  any applicable
bandruptcy law (a "Preference").
 
    The Insurer's policy does not insure against loss of any prepayment  premium
which  may at any time be payable with respect to any Bond. The Insurer's policy
does not, under any circumstance, insure against loss relating to: (i)  optional
or  mandatory redemptions (other than  mandatory sinking fund redemptions); (ii)
any payments to be made on an accelerated basis; (iii) payments of the  purchase
price  of Bonds upon tender by an owner thereof; or (iv) any Preference relating
to (i) through (iii)  above. The Insurer's policy  also does not insure  against
nonpayment  of  principal  of  or  interest  on  the  Bonds  resulting  from the
insolvency, negligence or any other act or  omission of the Paying Agent or  any
other paying agewnt for the Bonds.
 
    Upon  receipt of  telephonic notice,  such notice  subsequently confirmed in
writing by registered or  certified mail, or upon  receipt of written notice  by
registered  or certified mail, by the Insurer from the Paying Agent or any owner
of a Bond  the payment of  an insured amount  for which is  then due, that  such
required  payment has not been made, the Insurer on the due date of such payment
or within one business day after receipt of notice of such nonpayment, whichever
is later, will make a deposit of funds, in an account with State Street Bank and
Trust Company, N.A., in New York, New York, or its successor, sufficient for the
payment of any  such insured amounts  which are then  due. Upon presentment  and
surrender  of such Bonds or presentment of  such other proof of ownership of the
Bonds, together with any appropriate  instruments of assignment to evidence  the
assignment  of the insured amounts due on the  Bonds as are paid by the Insurer,
and appropriate instruments to  effect the appointment of  the Insurer as  agent
for  such owners  of the  Bonds in  any legal  proceeding related  to payment of
insured amounts on the Bonds, such  instruments being in a form satisfactory  to
State  Street bank and Trust Company, N.A.  State Street Bank and Trust Company,
N.A. shall disclose to such  owners or the Paying  Agent payment of the  insured
amounts  due on  such Bonds, less  any amount held  by the Paying  Agent for the
payment of such insured amounts and legally available therefor.
 
    The  Insurer,  formerly   known  as  Municipal   Bond  Investors   Assurance
Corporation,  is the  principal operating subsidiary  of MBIA, Inc.,  a New York
Stock Exchange listed company. MBIA Inc. is not obligated to pay the debts of or
claims against the Insurer. The  Insurer is domiciled in  the State of New  York
and  licensed to  do business in  all 50  states, the District  of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the  Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana  Islands,
the  Virgin Islands of the United States  and the Territory of Guam. The Insurer
has one European branch in the Republic of France.
 
    As of December  31, 1995  the Insurer had  admitted assets  of $3.8  billion
(audited),  total liabilities of  $2.5 billion (audited),  and total capital and
surplus of  $1.3  billion  (audited) determined  in  accordance  with  statutory
accounting   practices   prescribed   or  permitted   by   insurance  regulatory
authorities. As  of March  31, 1996,  the Insurer  had admitted  assets of  $4.0
billion  (unaudited), total liabilities  of $2.7 billion  (unaudited), and total
capital and surplus of  $1.3 billion (unaudited)  determined in accordance  with
statutory  accounting practices prescribed or  permitted by insurance regulatory
authorities. All information regarding the Insurer, a wholly owned subsidiary of
MBIA Inc., including the financial statements of the Insurer for the year  ended
December  31, 1995,  prepared in  accordance with  generally accepted accounting
principles, included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of MBIA Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 1995 is hereby  incorporated by reference into this  Official
Statement  and shall be deemed to be a part hereof. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated by reference  herein shall be  modified or superceded  for
purposes  of this  Official Statement to  the extent that  a statement contained
herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by
reference herein  modifies  or  supercedes  such  statement.  Any  statement  so
modified or superceded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superceded,
to constitute a part of this Official Statement.
 
    Furthermore,  copies of the Insurer's year end financial statements prepared
in accordance  with  statutory  accounting  practices  are  available  from  the
Insurer.   A  copy  of  the  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  of  MBIA,  Inc.  is
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
available from  the Insurere  or  the Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  The
address of the Insurer is 113 King Street, Armonk, New York 10504.
 
    Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") rates the claims paying ability of the
Insurer "Aaa".
 
    Standard  & Poor's Ratings Service, a division of the McGraw Hill Companies,
Inc. ("Standard & Poor's") rates the claims paying ability of the Insurer "AAA".
 
    Fitch Investors  Service,  L.P., rates  the  claims paying  ability  of  the
Insurer "AAA".
 
    Each rating of the Insurer should be evaluated independently. No application
has  been made to any other rating  agency in order to obtain additional ratings
on the  Bonds.  The  ratings  reflect the  respective  rating  agency's  current
assessment  of the creditworthiness of the Insurer and its ability to pay claims
on its policies of insurance. Any further explanation as to the significance  of
the above ratings may be obtained only from the applicable rating agency.
 
    The  above ratings are not  recommendations to buy, sell  or hold the Bonds,
and such ratings may  be subject to  revision or withdrawal at  any time by  the
rating  agencies. Any downward revision or  withdrawal of either or both ratings
may have an adverse effect  on the market price of  the Bonds. The Insurer  does
not guaranty the market price of the Bonds nor does it guaranty that the ratings
on the Bonds will not be revised or withdrawn.
 
TRADITIONAL  TRUSTS--Insurance guaranteeing the timely payment, when due, of all
principal and interest  on certain Bonds  in a Traditional  Trust may have  been
obtained  by the Sponsor, issuer or underwriter of the particular Bonds involved
or by another party. Such  insurance, which provides coverage substantially  the
same  as that  obtained with  respect to  Bonds in  Insured Trusts  as described
above, is effective so long as the  insured Bond is outstanding and the  insurer
remains  in business. Insurance relates  only to the particular  Bond and not to
the Units offered hereby or to their market value. Insured Bonds have received a
rating of "Aaa" by  Moody's Investors Service, Inc.  and/or "AAA" by Standard  &
Poor's Corporation in recognition of such insurance.
 
    If  a Bond in a Traditional Trust is insured, the Schedule of Investments in
Part A of  this Prospectus  will identify the  insurer. Such  insurance will  be
provided  by  Financial  Guaranty Insurance  Company  ("FGIC"),  AMBAC Indemnity
Corporation ("AMBAC"), Bond Investors Guaranty  Insurance Company, now known  as
MBIA  Corp. of  Illinois ("BIG"),  Capital Guaranty  Insurance Company ("CGIC"),
Financial Security Assurance, Inc. ("FSA"), Municipal Bond Insurance Association
(the "Association"), MBIA Insurance Corporation ("MBIA") or Connie Lee Insurance
Company ("ConnieLee"). The Sponsor to  date has purchased and presently  intends
to purchase insurance for Bonds in Traditional Trusts exclusively from MBIA (see
the  preceding disclosure  regarding MBIA). There  can be no  assurance that any
insurer listed therein  will be  able to satisfy  its commitments  in the  event
claims  are made in the future. However, Standard & Poor's Corporation has rated
the claims-paying ability of each  insurer "AAA," and Moody's Investors  Service
has  rated  all bonds  insured by  each such  insurer, except  ConnieLee, "Aaa."
Moody's Investor's Service gives no ratings for bonds insured by ConnieLee.
 
    Because any such insurance  will be effective so  long as the insured  Bonds
are  outstanding, such insurance  will be taken into  account in determining the
market value  of  such Bonds  and  therefore  some value  attributable  to  such
insurance  will be included in the value of the Units of the Trust that includes
such Bonds. The insurance does not,  however, guarantee the market value of  the
Bonds or of the Units.
 
ACCUMULATION PLAN
 
The  Sponsor, John Nuveen & Co.  Incorporated, is also the principal underwriter
of the  Nuveen Municipal  Bond Fund,  Inc. (the  "Bond Fund"),  Nuveen  Tax-Free
Reserves, Inc. ("Tax-Free Reserves"), Nuveen California Tax-Free Fund, Inc. (the
"California  Fund"),  Nuveen Tax-Free  Bond Fund,  Inc. ("Tax-Free  Bond Fund"),
Nuveen Insured Tax-Free  Bond Fund, Inc.  (the "Insured Bond  Fund") and  Nuveen
Tax-Free  Money  Market Fund,  Inc.  (the "Money  Market  Fund") and  the Nuveen
Multistate  Tax-Free  Trust  (the  "Multistate  Trust").  Each  of  these  funds
(together,  the  "Accumulation Funds")  is  an open-end,  diversified management
investment  company  into  which  Unitholders  may  choose  to  reinvest   Trust
distributions  automatically,  without any  sales  charge. (Reinvestment  in the
California Fund is available only  to Unitholders who are California  residents.
Reinvestment in the State Portfolios of the Tax-Free Bond Fund, the Insured Bond
Fund,  the  Money Market  Fund and  the  Multistate Trust  is available  only to
Unitholders who  are residents  of  the states  for  which such  portfolios  are
named.)  Unitholders may reinvest  both interest and  principal distributions or
principal distributions only. Each  Accumulation Fund has investment  objectives
which  differ in  certain respects from  those of  the Trusts and  may invest in
securities which would not be eligible for deposit in the Trusts. The investment
adviser to  each Accumulation  Fund  is Nuveen  Advisory Corp.,  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary  of  the  Sponsor. The  following  is  a general  description  of the
investment objectives  and  policies  of  each Accumulation  Fund.  For  a  more
detailed description, Unitholders should read the prospectus of the Accumulation
Fund in which they are interested.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
THE BOND FUND
 
    The  Bond  Fund has  the  objective of  providing,  through investment  in a
professionally managed portfolio of long-term  municipal bonds, as high a  level
of  current interest income exempt from Federal income tax as is consistent with
preservation of capital. The Bond Fund  may include in its portfolio  tax-exempt
bonds  rated Baa or BBB or better by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, unrated bonds
which, in the  opinion of  the investment adviser,  have credit  characteristics
equivalent  to  bonds  rated  Baa  or  BBB  or  better,  and  certain  temporary
investments, including securities the interest income from which may be  subject
to Federal income tax.
 
TAX-FREE RESERVES
 
    Tax-Free  Reserves is a  "money market" fund that  includes in its portfolio
only obligations  maturing  within  one  year  from  the  date  of  acquisition,
maintains an average maturity of all investments of 120 days or less, values its
portfolio at amortized cost and seeks to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per
share. It provides checkwriting and expedited wire redemption privileges for its
shareholders.   Tax-Free  Reserves  has  the  objective  of  providing,  through
investment in  a professionally  managed portfolio  of high  quality  short-term
municipal  obligations, as high  a level of current  interest income exempt from
Federal income  tax  as is  consistent  with  preservation of  capital  and  the
maintenance  of  liquidity.  Tax- Free  Reserves  may include  in  its portfolio
municipal obligations rated Aaa, Aa, MIG-1, VMIG-1 or Prime-1 by Moody's or AAA,
AA, SP-1 or A-1 by Standard & Poor's, unrated municipal obligations that, in the
opinion of the  investment adviser,  have credit  characteristics equivalent  to
obligations   rated  as  above,  tax-exempt   obligations  backed  by  the  U.S.
Government, and temporary investments that may be subject to Federal income tax.
 
THE CALIFORNIA FUND
 
    The California Fund has  the objective of  providing, through investment  in
professionally managed portfolios of California municipal obligations, as high a
level  of current interest income exempt from both Federal and California income
taxes as is consistent with the investment policies of each of the portfolios of
the California Fund  and with  preservation of  capital. Each  portfolio of  the
California  Fund may include  temporary investments that may  be subject to tax.
California Unitholders may reinvest in one of three portfolios of the California
Fund: The Nuveen California Tax-Free  Value Fund, the Nuveen California  Insured
Tax-Free Value Fund and the Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund.
 
    The  Nuveen California  Tax-Free Value  Fund invests  primarily in long-term
investment grade  California tax-exempt  bonds (I.E.,  bonds rated  in the  four
highest  categories by Moody's  or Standard &  Poor's or, if  unrated, that have
equivalent credit characteristics). The Nuveen California Insured Tax-Free Value
Fund invests primarily in the same type of investments as the Nuveen  California
Tax-Free  Value Fund,  each of  which is  covered by  insurance guaranteeing the
timely payment of  principal and  interest or  is backed  by a  deposit of  U.S.
Government securities.
 
    The  Nuveen  California  Tax-Free  Money Market  Fund  invests  primarily in
high-quality short term California tax-  exempt money market instruments  (I.E.,
obligations  rated in the two highest categories by Moody's or Standard & Poor's
or, if unrated,  that have  equivalent credit  characteristics). This  portfolio
will  include  only  obligations  maturing  within one  year  from  the  date of
acquisition, will maintain an average maturity of all investments of 120 days or
less, will value its portfolio at amortized cost and will seek to maintain a net
asset value of $1.00 per share. The Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
provides for an expedited wire redemption privilege.
 
THE TAX-FREE BOND FUND
 
    The Tax-Free Bond Fund consists  of the Nuveen Massachusetts Tax-Free  Value
Fund,  the Nuveen New York  Tax-Free Value Fund, the  Nuveen Ohio Tax-Free Value
Fund, and the Nuveen  New Jersey Tax-Free Value  Fund, which are each  available
for  reinvestment to Unitholders who  are residents of the  state for which such
portfolio is  named. The  Tax-Free Bond  Fund has  the objective  of  providing,
through  investment in a professionally managed portfolio of municipal bonds, as
high a level of current interest income exempt both from Federal income tax  and
from  the  income  tax  imposed  by  each  portfolio's  designated  state  as is
consistent with preservation of capital. The  Tax-Free Bond Fund may include  in
each  of its  portfolios tax-exempt  bonds rated Baa  or BBB  or better; unrated
bonds  which,  in   the  opinion   of  the  investment   adviser,  have   credit
characteristics  equivalent to  bonds rated  Baa or  BBB or  better; and certain
temporary investments, including securities the  interest income from which  may
be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
THE INSURED BOND FUND
 
    The  Insured Bond Fund  consists of the Nuveen  Insured Municipal Bond Fund,
the Nuveen Massachusetts  Insured Tax-Free Value  Fund and the  Nuveen New  York
Insured  Tax-Free  Value  Fund, which  are  each available  for  reinvestment to
Unitholders. (The Massachusetts and  New York Portfolios  are available only  to
those Unitholders
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
who  are residents of the  state for which the  portfolio is named.) The Insured
Bond Fund has the objective  of providing, through investment in  professionally
managed  portfolios  of municipal  bonds, as  high a  level of  current interest
income exempt from both Federal income tax and, in the case of designated  state
portfolios, from the income tax imposed by each portfolio's designated state, as
is consistent with preservation of capital. The Insured Bond Fund may include in
each  of its portfolios the same type  of investments as the Tax-Free Bond Fund,
each of  which  is covered  by  insurance  guaranteeing the  timely  payment  of
principal and interest or is backed by a deposit of U.S. Government securities.
 
THE MONEY MARKET FUND
 
    The  Money Market Fund  consists of the  Nuveen Massachusetts Tax-Free Money
Market Fund and the Nuveen New York  Tax-Free Money Market Fund, which are  each
available  for reinvestment  to Unitholders who  are residents of  the state for
which such portfolio is named. The Money Market Fund includes in its  portfolios
only  obligations  maturing  within  one  year  from  the  date  of acquisition,
maintains an average  maturity of  120 days or  less, values  its portfolios  at
amortized  cost and seeks to maintain a net  asset value of $1.00 per share. The
Money Market  Fund  has  the  objective  of  providing,  through  investment  in
professionally   managed  portfolios   of  high   quality  short-term  municipal
obligations, as high a level of current interest income exempt both from Federal
income tax and from the income tax imposed by each portfolio's designated  state
as  is consistent with stability of  principal and the maintenance of liquidity.
The  Money  Market  Fund  may  include  in  each  of  its  portfolios  municipal
obligations  rated Aaa, Aa, MIG-1, MIG- 2, VMIG-1, VMIG-2, Prime 1 or Prime 2 by
Moody's or  AAA, AA,  SP-1,  SP-2, A-1  or A-2  by  Standard &  Poor's;  unrated
municipal  obligations  that, in  the opinion  of  the investment  adviser, have
credit characteristics equivalent to obligations  rated as above; and  temporary
investments that may be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
THE MULTISTATE TRUST
 
    The Multistate Trust consists of the Nuveen Arizona Tax-Free Value Fund, the
Nuveen Florida Tax-Free Value Fund, the Nuveen Maryland Tax-Free Value Fund, the
Nuveen  Michigan Tax-Free Value Fund, the Nuveen New Jersey Tax-Free Value Fund,
the Nuveen Pennsylvania  Tax-Free Value Fund  and the Nuveen  Virginia Tax  Free
Value  Fund, which  are each available  for reinvestment to  Unitholders who are
residents of the state for which  such portfolio is named. The Multistate  Trust
has  the objective of providing, through  investment in a professionally managed
portfolio of municipal bonds, as high a level of current interest income  exempt
from  both regular Federal  income tax and the  applicable state personal income
tax as is  consistent with  preservation of  capital. The  Multistate Trust  may
include  in each  of its  portfolios tax-exempt  bonds rated  "Baa" or  "BBB" or
better, unrated bonds  which, in  the opinion  of the  investment advisor,  have
credit  characteristics  equivalent to  bonds rated  "baa"  or "BBB"  or better,
limited to  no more  than 20%  of  the Multistate  Trust's assets,  and  certain
temporary investments that may be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
    Each  person who purchases Units of a  Trust may become a participant in the
Accumulation Plan and elect  to have his  or her distributions  on Units of  the
Trust  invested directly in shares of one of the Accumulation Funds. Reinvesting
Unitholders  may  select  any  interest  distribution  plan.  Thereafter,   each
distribution  of  interest  income  or  principal  on  the  participant's  Units
(principal only in  the case of  a Unitholder  who has chosen  to reinvest  only
principal  distributions) will, on the applicable distribution date, or the next
day on which the New  York Stock Exchange is  normally open ("business day")  if
the  distribution  date is  not  a business  day,  automatically be  received by
Shareholder Services, Inc., transfer agent  for each of the Accumulation  Funds,
on  behalf of such participant  and applied on that  date to purchase shares (or
fractions thereof)  of  the Accumulation  Fund  chosen  at net  asset  value  as
computed  as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each such date. All distributions will
be reinvested  in the  Accumulation Fund  chosen  and no  part thereof  will  be
retained  in a separate  account. These purchases  will be made  without a sales
charge.
 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Sponsor and Underwriter, was founded in 1898
and is  the oldest  and  largest investment  banking  firm specializing  in  the
underwriting and distribution of tax-exempt securities and maintains the largest
research  department in the investment  banking community devoted exclusively to
the analysis of municipal securities. In  1961 the Sponsor began sponsoring  the
Nuveen  Tax-Free Unit Trust  and, since this  time, it has  issued more than $30
billion in tax-exempt unit trusts, including over $8 billion in insured  trusts.
The  Sponsor is  also principal underwriter  of the Nuveen  Municipal Bond Fund,
Inc., the Nuveen  Tax-Free Money  Market Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Tax-Free  Reserves,
Inc.,  Nuveen California Tax-Free  Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Tax-Free Bond Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen Insured Tax-Free Bond Fund, Inc. and Nuveen Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund,
Inc., all  registered open-end  management investment  companies, and  acted  as
co-managing  underwriter of Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc., Nuveen California
Municipal Value Fund, Inc., Nuveen New  York Municipal Value Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen
Municipal  Income  Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen California  Municipal Income  Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen New York Municipal Income
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
Fund, Inc., Nuveen Premium Income Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Performance  Plus
Municipal  Fund, Inc., Nuveen California  Performance Plus Municipal Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen  New  York  Performance  Plus  Municipal  Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen  Municipal
Advantage  Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Municipal  Market Opportunity  Fund, Inc., Nuveen
California Municipal Market  Opportunity Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen New York  Municipal
Market  Opportunity Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Investment Quality Municipal Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen California  Investment  Quality Municipal  Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  New  York
Investment  Quality Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Insured Quality Municipal Fund,
Inc., Nuveen  Florida Investment  Quality  Municipal Fund,  Nuveen  Pennsylvania
Investment   Quality  Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen  New  Jersey  Investment  Quality
Municipal Fund, Inc., and the Nuveen Select Quality Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen
California  Quality  Municipal  Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen  New  York  Select  Quality
Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Quality Income Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Insured
Municipal  Opportunity Fund, Inc., Nuveen Florida Quality Income Municipal Fund,
Nuveen Michigan Quality Income Municipal  Fund, Inc., Nuveen New Jersey  Quality
Income  Municipal Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Ohio Quality  Income Municipal Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen Texas Quality  Income
Municipal  Fund, Nuveen California  Quality Income Municipal  Fund, Inc., Nuveen
New York Quality Income Municipal  Fund, Inc., Nuveen Premier Insured  Municipal
Income  Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Select Tax Free Income  Portfolio, Nuveen Select Tax
Free Income  Portfolio  2,  Nuveen Insured  California  Select  Tax-Free  Income
Portfolio,  Nuveen  Insured New  York Select  Tax-Free Income  Portfolio, Nuveen
Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Inc.,  Nuveen Select Tax Free Income  Portfolio
3,  Nuveen Select Maturities  Municipal Fund, Nuveen  Insured California Premium
Income Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Arizona Premium Income Municipal Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen Insured  Premium  Income Municipal  Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  Insured  Florida
Premium  Income Municipal Fund,  Nuveen Michigan Premium  Income Municipal Fund,
Inc., Nuveen New Jersey Premium Income Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Insured  New
York  Premium Income Municipal Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Ohio Premium Income Municipal
Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Pennsylvania  Premium Income  Municipal Fund,  Nuveen  Texas
Premium  Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen Premium  Income Municipal  Fund 4, Inc.,
Nuveen Pennsylvania  Premium Income  Municipal Fund  2, Nuveen  Insured  Florida
Premium  Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen Maryland Premium Income Municipal Fund,
Nuveen Virginia  Premium Income  Municipal  Fund, Nuveen  Massachusetts  Premium
Income  Municipal Fund, Nuveen Insured  California Premium Income Municipal Fund
2, Inc., Nuveen  Insured New York  Premium Income Municipal  Fund 2, Nuveen  New
Jersey  Premium  Income  Municipal  Fund  2,  Nuveen  Washington  Premium Income
Municipal Fund, Nuveen Michigan Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen  Georgia
Premium  Income Municipal Fund,  Nuveen Missouri Premium  Income Municipal Fund,
Nuveen Connecticut Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen North Carolina  Premium
Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen New Jersey Premium Income Municipal Fund 3, Nuveen
Florida  Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen New York Premium Income Municipal
Fund, Nuveen  California  Premium  Income Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen  Pennsylvania
Premium Income Municipal Fund 3, Nuveen Maryland Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen
Virginia  Premium Income Municipal Fund 2,  Nuveen Ohio Premium Income Municipal
Fund 2,  Nuveen  Insured Premium  Income  Municipal Fund  2,  Nuveen  California
Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, all registered closed-end management investment
companies.   These  registered  open-end  and  closed-end  investment  companies
currently have  approximately  $32.8  billion  in  tax-exempt  securities  under
management.  Nationwide, more than 1,000,000 individual investors have purchased
Nuveen's tax exempt trusts and funds.  The present corporation was organized  in
1967  as  a  wholly-owned subsidiary  of  Nuveen Corporation,  successor  to the
original John  Nuveen  &  Co. founded  in  1898  as a  sole  proprietorship  and
incorporated  in  1953.  In  1974,  John  Nuveen  &  Co.  Incorporated  became a
wholly-owned subsidiary of The  St. Paul Companies,  Inc., a financial  services
management  company  located in  St. Paul,  Minnesota. On  May 19,  1992, common
shares comprising a  minority interest  in The  John Nuveen  Company ("JNC"),  a
newly  organized corporation which holds all of  the shares of Nuveen, were sold
to the  general  public  in an  initial  public  offering. St.  Paul  retains  a
controlling  interest in  JNC with over  70% of  JNC's shares. The  Sponsor is a
member  of  the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  and  the
Securities Industry Association and has its principal offices located in Chicago
(333  W. Wacker Drive) and New York (Swiss  Bank Tower, 10 East 50th Street). It
maintains 14 regional offices.
 
The Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trusts  and the Sponsor have  adopted a code of  ethics
which  essentially prohibits  all Nuveen  investment personnel  from engaging in
personal investments  which  compete  or  interfere with,  or  attempt  to  take
advantage  of, a  Trust's anticipated or  actual portfolio  transactions, and is
designed to  assure  that the  interest  of  Unitholders is  placed  before  the
interest   of   Nuveen  personnel   in   connection  with   personal  investment
transactions.
 
    To help advisers and investors better understand and more efficiently use an
investment in the Trust  to reach their investment  goals, the Trust's  sponsor,
John  Nuveen &  Co. Incorporated, may  advertise and  create specific investment
programs and  systems.  For  example, such  activities  may  include  presenting
information  on how to use  an investment in the  Trust, alone or in combination
with an investment in other mutual funds or unit investment trusts sponsored  by
Nuveen,  to accumulate  assets for future  education needs  or periodic payments
such as
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
insurance premiums. The Trust's sponsor may produce software or additional sales
literature to promote the advantages of using the Trust to meet these and  other
specific investor needs.
 
    The   Sponsor  offers  a  program   of  advertising  support  to  registered
broker-dealer firms, banks and bank  affiliates ("Firms") that sell Trust  Units
or  shares  of Nuveen  Open-End  Tax-Free Mutual  Funds  (excluding money-market
funds) ("Funds"). Under this program, the Sponsor will pay or reimburse the Firm
for up  to one  half  of specified  media costs  incurred  in the  placement  of
advertisements  which jointly feature the Firm  and the Nuveen Funds and Trusts.
Reimbursements to the Firm will be based on the number of the Firm's  registered
representatives  who have sold  Fund Shares and/or Trust  Units during the prior
calendar year according  to an established  schedule. Reimbursements under  this
program will be made by the Sponsor and not by the Funds or Trusts.
 
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS*
 
    STANDARD  & POOR'S CORPORATION.  A  description of the applicable Standard &
Poor's Corporation rating symbols and their meanings follows:
 
    A Standard & Poor's rating is  a current assessment of the  creditworthiness
of  an obligor with respect  to a specific debt  obligation. This assessment may
take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers or lessees.
 
    The rating is  not a recommendation  to purchase, sell  or hold a  security,
inasmuch  as  it  does not  comment  as to  market  price or  suitability  for a
particular investor.
 
    The ratings are  based on  current information  furnished by  the issuer  or
obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. Standard
&  Poor's does not  perform an audit in  connection with any  rating and may, on
occasion, rely on unaudited financial  information. The ratings may be  changed,
suspended  or withdrawn as  a result of  changes in, or  unavailability of, such
information, or for other circumstances.
 
    The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:
 
     I.  Likelihood of default--capacity  and willingness of  the obligor as  to
         the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance
         with the terms of the obligation;
 
     II.  Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
 
    III.  Protection  afforded by, and  relative position of,  the obligation in
          the event of  bankruptcy, reorganization or  other arrangements  under
          the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
 
    AAA--This  is the  highest rating  assigned by Standard  & Poor's  to a debt
obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
 
    AA--Bonds rated AA  have a very  strong capacity to  pay interest and  repay
principal, and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
 
    A--Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
 
    BBB--Bonds  rated BBB  are regarded  as having  an adequate  capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate  protection
parameters,  adverse  economic  conditions or  changing  circumstances  are more
likely to lead to a  weakened capacity to pay  interest and repay principal  for
bonds in this category than for bonds in the higher rated categories.
 
    PLUS  (+) OR MINUS (-): The ratings from "AA" to "BB" may be modified by the
addition of a  plus or minus  sign to  show relative standing  within the  major
rating categories.
 
    PROVISIONAL   RATINGS:  The  letter   "p"  indicates  that   the  rating  is
provisional. A  provisional  rating assumes  the  successful completion  of  the
project  being financed by the  issuance of the bonds  being rated and indicates
that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent  upon
the successful and timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while
addressing  credit quality  subsequent to  completion of  the project,  makes no
comment on the  likelihood of,  or the  risk of  default upon  failure of,  such
completion.  Accordingly,  the investor  should exercise  his own  judgment with
respect to such likelihood and risk.
 
    NOTE RATINGS:  A  Standard  &  Poor's note  rating  reflects  the  liquidity
concerns  and market access risks unique to notes.  Notes due in 3 years or less
will likely  receive a  note rating.  Notes maturing  beyond 3  years will  most
likely receive a long-term debt rating.
 
- ----------
*As published by the rating companies.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
    Note rating symbols are as follows:
 
        SP-1  Very  strong  or strong  capacity to  pay principal  and interest.
              Those   issues   determined   to   possess   overwhelming   safety
              characteristics will be given a plus (+) designation.
 
        SP-2  Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
 
RATINGS OF INSURED TRUST UNITS
 
    A  Standard &  Poor's rating  on the  units of  an insured  investment trust
(hereinafter referred  to collectively  as "units"  and "trusts")  is a  current
assessment  of  creditworthiness with  respect to  the  investment held  by such
trust. This assessment takes  into consideration the  financial capacity of  the
issuers  and of any guarantors, insurers,  lessees or mortgagors with respect to
such investments. The assessment, however, does not take into account the extent
to which  trust  expenses or  portfolio  asset sales  for  less than  the  trust
purchase  price  will  reduce payment  to  the  unitholder of  the  interest and
principal required to be paid on  the portfolio assets. In addition, the  rating
is  not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold units, inasmuch as the rating
does not comment as to market price of the units or suitability for a particular
investor.
 
    Units rated "AAA" are composed exclusively of assets that are rated "AAA" by
Standard &  Poor's  and/or certain  short-term  investments. Standard  &  Poor's
defines  its  AAA rating  for  such assets  as  the highest  rating  assigned by
Standard &  Poor's to  a debt  obligation. Capacity  to pay  interest and  repay
principal  is very strong. However,  unit ratings may be  subject to revision or
withdrawal at any time by Standard & Poor's and each rating should be  evaluated
independently of any other rating.
 
    MOODY'S  INVESTORS  SERVICE, INC.   A  brief  description of  the applicable
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. rating symbols and their meanings follows:
 
    Aaa--Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of  investment risk and are  generally referred to as  "gilt
edge."  Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to change, such changes  as can be  visualized are most  unlikely to impair  the
fundamentally  strong position of such issues. Their safety is so absolute that,
with the  occasional  exception  of  oversupply in  a  few  specific  instances,
characteristically,  their  market  value  is affected  solely  by  money market
fluctuations.
 
    Aa--Bonds which  are rated  Aa  are judged  to be  of  high quality  by  all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as
high  grade bonds. They are  rated lower than the  best bonds because margins of
protection may  not  be  as  large  as in  Aaa  securities  or  fluctuations  of
protective  elements may be of greater amplitude  or there may be other elements
present which  make the  long-term  risks appear  somewhat  larger than  in  Aaa
securities.  Their  market value  is virtually  immune to  all but  money market
influences, with  the  occasional exception  of  oversupply in  a  few  specific
instances.
 
    A--Bonds  which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and
are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving  security
to  principal and interest are considered  adequate, but elements may be present
which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. The  market
value  of A-rated bonds may be influenced to some degree by economic performance
during a sustained period of depressed business conditions, but, during  periods
of  normalcy,  A-rated  bonds  frequently  move  in  parallel  with  Aaa  and Aa
obligations, with  the occasional  exception  of oversupply  in a  few  specific
instances.
 
    Moody's  bond rating  symbols may contain  numerical modifiers  of a generic
rating classification. The modifier 1 indicates that the bond ranks at the  high
end  of its  category; the  modifier 2  indicates a  mid-range ranking;  and the
modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating
category.
 
    Baa--Bonds which are rated Baa  are considered as medium grade  obligations,
i.e.,  they are neither  highly protected nor  poorly secured. Interest payments
and principal security appear  adequate for the  present but certain  protective
elements  may be lacking or may  be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such  bonds lack outstanding  investment characteristics and  in
fact  have speculative  characteristics as well.  The market  value of Baa-rated
bonds is more  sensitive to changes  in economic circumstances,  and aside  from
occasional  speculative factors applying to some bonds of this class, Baa market
valuations move in  parallel with Aaa,  Aa and A  obligations during periods  of
economic normalcy, except in instances of oversupply.
 
    Con.  (--)--Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some
act or the  fulfillment of  some condition  are rated  conditionally. These  are
bonds  secured by (a)  earnings of projects under  construction, (b) earnings of
projects unseasoned  in  operation  experience, (c)  rentals  which  begin  when
facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition
attaches.  Parenthetical rating denotes probable  credit stature upon completion
of construction or elimination of basis of condition.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    NOTE RATINGS:
 
    MIG 1-- This  designation  denotes best  quality.  There is  present  strong
           protection  by established cash flows,  superior liquidity support or
           demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
 
    MIG 2-- This designation  denotes high  quality. Margins  of protection  are
           ample although not so large as in the preceding group.
 
HOW THE TRUST COMPARES PERFORMANCE
 
    The  Sponsor may compare the estimated returns of the Trust with the returns
or yields  of  other  tax-free  and taxable  investments,  often  on  a  taxable
equivalent  basis. In addition, the Sponsor from  time to time may quote various
performance measures  and studies  in order  to compare  the historical  returns
available  from an investment  in municipal securities  with investments in both
tax-free and taxable securities.
 
    In September 1995, Nuveen  Research prepared one  such study which  compared
the  after-tax value  of $100,000  initially invested  in 1975  in various asset
classes including  municipal  bonds,  treasury bonds  and  corporate  bonds.  As
indicated  in the chart  provided below, the 20-year  study shows that municipal
bonds significantly outperformed corporate and  treasury bonds once the  effects
of  taxes were  factored in.  In fact, over  the 20-year  period, municipal bond
returns in dollars were more than double those of treasury bonds.
 
                 AFTER-TAX VALUE OF $100,000 INVESTED IN 1975*
 
    The graph  appearing on  this page  of the  Information Supplement  compares
after-tax  total returns  of $100,000  initially in 1975  in each  of the Lehman
Brothers MuniBond Index, Long-Term Treasury Index and Long-Term Corporate Index.
As indicated in the  graph, such an investment  in the Lehman Brothers  MuniBond
Index,  Long-Term  Treasury  Index  and  Long-Term  Corporate  Index  would have
appreciated to  $448,740, $267,668,  and $304,049,  respectively at  the end  of
1994.  The  graph  assumes all  proceeds  of  investment are  reinvested  at the
respective index rates at the time of reinvestment and also assumes that 20%  of
the assets in each category are turned over annually and proceeds are reinvested
in the respective indexes. The tax rates assumed to generate the after-tax total
returns  were based upon the income and  capital gain rates applicable each year
from 1975-1994 for an investor who earned the inflation-adjusted equivalents  of
$400,000  in 1994. In addition, treasury returns were "grossed up" an assumed 5%
to take into account the Treasuries' exemption from state income tax. The  graph
is  for  illustrative  purposes  only,  and does  not  represent  the  return or
performance of any  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit  Trust and is  not intended to  predict
future results.
 
    *  The  graph compares  after-tax total  returns  using the  Lehman Brothers
MuniBond Index,  Long-Term Treasury  Index and  Long-Term Corporate  Index.  The
graph  assumes all proceeds of investment are reinvested at the respective index
rates at the time  of reinvestment and  also assumes that 20%  of the assets  in
each  category  are turned  over  annually and  proceeds  are reinvested  in the
respective indexes.  The  tax rates  assumed  to generate  the  after-tax  total
returns  were based upon the income and  capital gain rates applicable each year
from 1975-1994 for an investor who earned the inflation-adjusted equivalents  of
$100,000  in 1994. In addition, treasury returns were "grossed up" an assumed 5%
to take into account the Treasuries' exemption from state income tax. The  graph
is  for  illustrative  purposes  only,  and does  not  represent  the  return or
performance of any  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit  Trust and is  not intended to  predict
future results.
 
    A  comparison  of  the  estimated  returns of  the  Trust  and  the historic
performance  of  municipal  bonds  to  the  returns  and  performance  of  other
investments  is  one  element  to  consider  in  making  an  informed investment
decision. Taxable investments have  investment characteristics that differ  from
those  of the Trust.  U.S. Government bonds are  long-term investments backed by
the full faith  and credit of  the U.S.  Government and are  subject to  federal
income  tax  but are  exempt from  state  income taxes.  Bank CDs  are generally
short-term FDIC insured investments, which pay fixed principal and interest  but
are subject to fluctuating rollover rates. Both bank CDs and corporate bonds are
generally subject to both federal and state income taxes. Money market funds are
short  term investments  with stable  net asset  values, fluctuating  yields and
special features that enhance liquidity.
 
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME
 
    The examples provided below illustrate how to calculate the estimated annual
income generated by a hypothetical $10,000 investment in each respective  Trust.
The  illustrations assume that the  investment was made on  the day prior to the
date of deposit  by an investor  electing the monthly  distribution plan.  These
hypothetical
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
examples  are  for illustrative  purposes only  and not  intended to  reflect or
predict the results of any actual investment.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>        <C>                              <C>        <C>
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME:
 
    INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 86
 
    $10,000                       DIVIDED  BY $100.94                        =          99.068
    Investment                              Offering price and                          # of units purchased
    (as of 07/10/96)                        accrued interest
 
    99.068                       X          $4.6784                          =          $463.48
    # of units purchased                    Annual income per unit                      annual income
                                            (monthly plan)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>        <C>                              <C>        <C>
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME:
 
    COLORADO INSURED TRUST 64
 
    $10,000                       DIVIDED  BY $98.77                         =          101.245
    Investment                              Offering price and                          # of units purchased
    (as of 07/10/96)                        accrued interest
 
    101.245                      X          $5.2103                          =          $527.52
    # of units purchased                    Annual income per unit                      annual income
                                            (monthly plan)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>        <C>                              <C>        <C>
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME:
 
    GEORGIA INSURED TRUST 52
 
    $10,000                       DIVIDED  BY $100.97                        =          99.039
    Investment                              Offering price and                          # of units purchased
    (as of 07/10/96)                        accrued interest
 
    99.039                       X          $5.3238                          =          $527.26
    # of units purchased                    Annual income per unit                      annual income
                                            (monthly plan)
</TABLE>
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>        <C>                              <C>        <C>
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME:
 
    MASSACHUSETTS INSURED TRUST 138
 
    $10,000                       DIVIDED  BY $99.55                         =          100.452
    Investment                              Offering price and                          # of units purchased
    (as of 07/10/96)                        accrued interest
 
    100.452                      X          $5.3780                          =          $540.23
    # of units purchased                    Annual income per unit                      annual income
                                            (monthly plan)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>        <C>                              <C>        <C>
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME:
 
    NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 209
 
    $10,000                       DIVIDED  BY $100.44                        =          99.561
    Investment                              Offering price and                          # of units purchased
    (as of 07/10/96)                        accrued interest
 
    99.561                       X          $5.3444                          =          $532.09
    # of units purchased                    Annual income per unit                      annual income
                                            (monthly plan)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>        <C>                              <C>        <C>
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME:
 
    OHIO INSURED TRUST 135
 
    $10,000                       DIVIDED  BY $100.97                        =          99.039
    Investment                              Offering price and                          # of units purchased
    (as of 07/10/96)                        accrued interest
 
    99.039                       X          $5.4384                          =          $538.61
    # of units purchased                    Annual income per unit                      annual income
                                            (monthly plan)
</TABLE>
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX A
                            INTERMEDIATE DISCLOSURE
 
NATIONALLY DIVERSIFIED TRUST TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
(INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST)
 
    The  following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current returns
for individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current  returns
under  published  1996  marginal  Federal  tax  rates.  The  tables  incorporate
increased tax  rates for  higher-income tax  payers that  were included  in  the
Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993. The tables illustrate what you would have to
earn on taxable investments to equal the tax-exempt estimated current return for
your  income tax bracket. A taxpayer's marginal tax rate is affected by both his
taxable income and his adjusted gross income. Locate your adjusted gross  income
and  your taxable  income (which  is your adjusted  gross income  reduced by any
deductions and  exemptions), then  locate your  tax bracket  based on  joint  or
single  tax  filing. Read  across to  the  equivalent taxable  estimated current
return you would need to match the tax-free income.
 
  MARGINAL FEDERAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED
    TAXABLE        GROSS                                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      3.75%   4.00%   4.25%   4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 40.1 $    0-117.95      15.0   %     4.41    4.71    5.00    5.29    5.59    5.88    6.18    6.47
    40.1- 96.9      0-117.95      28.0         5.21    5.56    5.90    6.25    6.60    6.94    7.29    7.64
               117.95-176.95      29.0         5.28    5.63    5.99    6.34    6.69    7.04    7.39    7.75
    96.9-147.7      0-117.95      31.0         5.43    5.80    6.16    6.52    6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97
               117.95-176.95      32.0         5.51    5.88    6.25    6.62    6.99    7.35    7.72    8.09
               176.95-299.45      34.5         5.73    6.11    6.49    6.87    7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40
  147.7-263.75 117.95-176.95      37.0         5.95    6.35    6.75    7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73
               176.95-299.45      40.0         6.25    6.67    7.08    7.50    7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17
                 Over 299.45      37.0   2     5.95    6.35    6.75    7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73
   Over 263.75 176.95-299.45      44.0         6.70    7.14    7.59    8.04    8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82
                 Over 299.45      41.0   3     6.36    6.78    7.20    7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32
</TABLE>
 
  MARGINAL FEDERAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED
    TAXABLE        GROSS                                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      3.75%   4.00%   4.25%   4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $    0- 24.00 $    0-117.95      15.0   %     4.41    4.71    5.00    5.29    5.59    5.88    6.18    6.47
  24.00- 58.15      0-117.95      28.0         5.21    5.56    5.90    6.25    6.60    6.94    7.29    7.64
  58.15-121.30      0-117.95      31.0         5.43    5.80    6.16    6.52    6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97
               117.95-240.45      32.5         5.56    5.93    6.30    6.67    7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15
 121.30-263.75 117.95-240.45      38.0         6.05    6.45    6.85    7.26    7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87
                 Over 240.45      37.0   2     5.95    6.35    6.75    7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73
   Over 263.75   Over 240.45      41.0   3     6.36    6.78    7.20    7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
      1 The table reflects the effect of the limitations on itemized  deductions
and  the  deduction for  personal exemptions.  They were  designed to  phase out
certain  benefits  of  these  deductions  for  higher  income  taxpayers.  These
limitations,  in effect, raise the current  maximum marginal Federal tax rate to
approximately 44.0 percent for taxpayers filing  a joint return and entitled  to
four  personal exemptions and to approximately 41.0 percent for taxpayers filing
a single return entitled to only  one personal exemption. These limitations  are
subject  to certain maximums,  which depend on the  number of exemptions claimed
and the total  amount of the  taxpayer's itemized deductions.  For example,  the
limitation  on itemized deductions will  not cause a taxpayer  to lose more than
80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
 
      2 Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0% after the 80% cap on the limitation on
itemized deductions has been met.
 
      3 Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6% after the 80% cap on the limitation on
itemized deductions has been met.
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX B
                              COLORADO DISCLOSURE
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--COLORADO
 
    RESTRICTIONS  ON  APPROPRIATIONS  AND  REVENUES.    The  State  Constitution
requires that expenditures  for any  fiscal year  not exceed  revenues for  such
fiscal  year.  By statute,  the amount  of General  Fund revenues  available for
appropriation is  based  upon  revenue  estimates  which,  together  with  other
available  resources, must  exceed annual  appropriations by  the amount  of the
unappropriated  reserve  (the  "Unappropriated  Reserve").  The   Unappropriated
Reserve  requirement for fiscal years 1991, 1992 and 1993 was set at 3% of total
appropriations from the General Fund. For fiscal years 1994 and thereafter,  the
Unappropriated   Reserve  requirement  is   set  at  4%.   In  addition  to  the
Unappropriated Reserve, a constitutional  amendment approved by Colorado  voters
in  1992  requires the  State and  each  local government  to reserve  a certain
percentage of  its fiscal  year  spending (excluding  bonded debt  service)  for
emergency  use (the "Emergency Reserve"). The  minimum Emergency Reserve was set
at 1% for 1993 and 2%  for 1994 and is set at  3% for 1995 and later years.  For
fiscal year 1992 and thereafter, General Fund appropriations are also limited by
statute  to  an  amount  equal  to  the  cost  of  performing  certain  required
reappraisals of taxable property plus an amount equal to the lesser of (i)  five
percent  of Colorado  personal income  or (ii)  106% of  the total  General Fund
appropriations for the previous fiscal year. This restriction does not apply  to
any  General Fund appropriations which are required as a result of a new federal
law, a final state or federal court order or moneys derived from the increase in
the rate or amount of  any tax or fee approved  by a majority of the  registered
electors of the State voting at any general election. In addition, the statutory
limit  on the level of  General Fund appropriations may  be exceeded for a given
fiscal year  upon the  declaration of  a  State fiscal  emergency by  the  State
General Assembly.
 
   
    According  to the Colorado Economic Perspective, Fourth Quarter, Fiscal Year
1996, June 20,  1996 (the  "1996 Economic Report"),  which is  published by  the
Office of State Planning and Budgeting, the fiscal year 1995 ending General Fund
balance  was  $488.5  million,  which  was  $262.4  million  over  the  combined
Unappropriated Reserve and Emergency Reserve  requirement. The 1994 fiscal  year
ending  General  Fund balance  was $405.1  million, or  $234.0 million  over the
required Unappropriated  Reserve  and  Emergency  Reserve.  Based  on  the  1996
Economic  Report estimates, the fiscal year  1996 ending General Fund balance is
expected to be approximately $315.2 million, or $158.6 million over the required
Unappropriated Reserve and Emergency Reserve.
    
 
   
    On November 3, 1992, voters in Colorado approved a constitutional  amendment
(the  "Amendment") which,  in general, became  effective December  31, 1992, and
restricts the ability of  the State and local  governments to increase  revenues
and  impose taxes. The Amendment applies to the State and all local governments,
including  home   rule   entities   ("Districts").   Enterprises,   defined   as
government-owned  businesses  authorized to  issue  revenue bonds  and receiving
under 10%  of  annual  revenue in  grants  from  all Colorado  state  and  local
governments combined, are excluded from the provisions of the Amendment.
    
 
   
    The  provisions  of the  Amendment are  unclear  and have  required judicial
interpretation.  Among  other  provisions,  beginning  November  4,  1992,   the
Amendment  requires voter approval  prior to tax increases,  the imposition of a
new tax,  creation of  debt, or  mill  levy or  valuation for  assessment  ratio
increases.  The  Amendment  also  limits increases  in  government  spending and
property tax  revenues to  specified percentages.  The Amendment  requires  that
District  property tax  revenues yield  no more  than the  prior year's revenues
adjusted for inflation, voter approved changes and (except with regard to school
districts) local growth in property values  according to a formula set forth  in
the  Amendment. School districts are allowed to adjust tax levies for changes in
student enrollment. Pursuant to the  Amendment, local government spending is  to
be  limited by the same formula as the limitation for property tax revenues. The
Amendment limits  increases in  expenditures  from the  State General  Fund  and
program  revenues (cash  funds) to the  growth in inflation  plus the percentage
change in State  population in the  prior calendar year.  The bases for  initial
spending  and revenue  limits are  fiscal year  1992 spending  and 1991 property
taxes collected in 1992.  The bases for spending  and revenue limits for  fiscal
year  1994 and later years will be the prior fiscal year's spending and property
taxes collected in the prior calendar year. Debt service changes, reductions and
voter-approved revenue  changes are  excluded from  the calculation  bases.  The
Amendment  also prohibits  new or  increased real  property transfer  taxes, new
State real property taxes and local District income taxes.
    
 
   
    Litigation concerning  several issues  relating to  the Amendment  has  been
brought  in  the  Colorado courts.  The  litigation deals  with  three principal
issues: (i) whether Districts  can increase mill levies  to pay debt service  on
general  obligation  bonds  without  obtaining voter  approval;  (ii)  whether a
multi-year lease-purchase  agreement  subject  to  annual  appropriation  is  an
obligation  which requires voter  approval prior to  execution of the agreement;
    
 
                                      B-1
<PAGE>
   
and (iii) what constitutes an "enterprise" which is excluded from the provisions
of the  Amendment. In  September, 1994,  the Colorado  Supreme Court  held  that
Districts  can increase  mill levies to  pay debt service  on general obligation
bonds issued  after the  effective date  of  the Amendment;  in June,  1995  the
Colorado  Supreme Court validated mill levy  increases to pay general obligation
bonds issued prior to the Amendment. In late 1994, the Colorado Court of Appeals
held that multi-year lease-purchase  agreements subject to annual  appropriation
do  not require  voter approval.  The time to  file an  appeal in  that case has
expired. Finally, in May, 1995, the  Colorado Supreme Court ruled that  entities
with the power to levy taxes may not themselves be "enterprises" for purposes of
the  Amendment;  however, the  Court  did not  address  the issue  of  how valid
enterprises may  be  created. Many  Colorado  local governments  interpret  this
decision to mean that a government with taxing power cannot be an enterprise but
that  a business activity (such as a utility) owned by such a government can be.
Additional litigation in the  "enterprise" arena may be  filed in the future  to
clarify  these  issues.  Litigation  is currently  pending  before  the Colorado
Supreme Court as to whether voters can authorize a government to keep and  spend
all  revenues received in  excess of the  spending limits. Other  aspects of the
spending limit are being litigated in district court actions.
    
 
   
    According to the 1996  Economic Report, for fiscal  year 1994, general  fund
revenues  (adjusted  for cash  funds that  are exempt  from the  Amendment) were
$3,681.4 million and program  revenues (cash funds)  were $1,703.7 million,  for
revenues  totaling $5,385.1 million.  During calendar year  1993, population and
inflation grew at  rates of 4.2%  and 2.9%, respectively,  for a combined  total
limit of 7.1%. Accordingly, under the Amendment, increases in State expenditures
during  the 1995 fiscal  year could not  exceed $5,767.5 million  and the actual
1995 general fund and program revenues of $5,757.3 million were under the limit.
The limitation for fiscal year 1996 is 7.0% over revenues during the 1995 fiscal
year; accordingly, 1996  fiscal year  revenues cannot  exceed $6,160.3  million.
Fiscal  year 1996 revenues are  estimated to be $6,087.2  million which is $73.2
million under  the  limitation. The  limitation  for  the 1997  fiscal  year  is
currently  projected  to  be  6.6%  which  translates  to  a  revenue  limit  of
approximately $6,488.9 million for fiscal year 1997.
    
 
    There is also a statutory restriction  on the amount of annual increases  in
taxes  that  the  various  taxing jurisdictions  in  Colorado  can  levy without
electoral approval.  This restriction  does not  apply to  taxes levied  to  pay
general obligation debt.
 
   
    STATE  FINANCES.    As  the  State  experienced  revenue  shortfalls  in the
mid-1980s, it adopted various  measures, including impoundment  of funds by  the
Governor,  reduction  of appropriations  by  the General  Assembly,  a temporary
increase in the  sales tax, deferral  of certain tax  reductions and  inter-fund
borrowings.  According to State of Colorado Audited Financial Reports, on a GAAP
basis, the State  had unrestricted General  Fund ending balances  at June 30  of
approximately  $16.3 million in fiscal year  1991, $133.3 million in fiscal year
1992, $326.8 million in fiscal year 1993, $320.4 million in fiscal year 1994 and
$408.0 million  for fiscal  year 1995.  The 1996  Economic Report  projects  the
unrestricted  General Fund ending balance to be approximately $315.2 million for
fiscal year 1996.
    
 
   
    For fiscal year 1995, the  following tax categories generated the  following
percentages  of  the State's  $3,996.4 million  total revenues  (accrual basis);
individual income taxes represented  52.7% of gross  fiscal year 1995  receipts;
sales,  use, and other excise taxes represented  32.9% of gross fiscal year 1995
receipts; and corporate income taxes represented 4.8% of gross fiscal year  1995
receipts.  For fiscal year 1996, General Fund revenues of approximately $4,239.9
million are projected, and appropriations of approximately $4,413.2 million  are
projected.  The percentages of General Fund revenue generated by type of tax for
fiscal year 1996 are not expected to be significantly different from fiscal year
1995 percentages.
    
 
    STATE DEBT.  Under its constitution, the State of Colorado is not  permitted
to  issue general obligation bonds  secured by the full  faith and credit of the
State.  However,  certain  agencies  and  instrumentalities  of  the  State  are
authorized  to  issue  bonds  secured by  revenues  from  specific  projects and
activities. The State enters into  certain lease transactions which are  subject
to  annual  renewal  at the  option  of the  State.  In addition,  the  State is
authorized to issue  short-term revenue anticipation  notes. Local  governmental
units  in the State are also authorized  to incur indebtedness. The major source
of financing for such  local government indebtedness is  an ad valorem  property
tax.  In addition, in order to finance public projects, local governments in the
State can  issue  revenue  bonds payable  from  the  revenues of  a  utility  or
enterprise  or from the proceeds  of an excise tax,  or assessment bonds payable
from special assessments.  Colorado local  governments can  also finance  public
projects  through leases which are subject to annual appropriation at the option
of  the  local  government.  Local  governments  in  Colorado  also  issue   tax
anticipation notes. The Amendment requires prior voter approval for the creation
of  any  multiple fiscal  year debt  or  other financial  obligation whatsoever,
except for refundings at a lower rate or obligations of an enterprise.
 
                                      B-2
<PAGE>
   
    STATE ECONOMY.   Based  on estimates  published by  the State  of  Colorado,
Office of State Planning and Budgeting as presented in the 1996 Economic Report,
nearly  55% of non-agricultural employment in  Colorado in 1995 was concentrated
in the retail and wholesale trade and service sectors, reflecting the importance
of tourism to  the State's  economy and  of Denver  as a  regional economic  and
transportation  hub. The  government and  manufacturing sectors  followed as the
next largest employment sectors in  the State, representing approximately  16.5%
and  10.4%, respectively, of  non-agricultural employment in  the State in 1995.
The Office  of  Planning  and  Budgeting  projects  similar  concentrations  for
calendar years 1996 and 1997.
    
 
   
    According  to the 1996  Economic Report for  Colorado, the unemployment rate
remained unchanged from an average of 4.2% from calendar years 1994 to 1995, and
total retail  sales  increased  by  5.1% during  calendar  year  1995.  Colorado
continued to surpass the employment growth rate of the U.S., with a 4.7% rate of
growth  for Colorado in calendar year 1995, as compared with 2.3% for the nation
as a whole.  However, according to  the 1996  Economic Report, the  rate of  job
growth  in Colorado is  projected to be  lower in 1996  than the 1995  rate as a
result of layoffs at various companies.
    
 
   
    Personal income  rose 7.7%  in Colorado  during 1995,  as compared  with  an
increase of 6.1% for the nation as a whole.
    
 
COLORADO TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The  following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current returns
for individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current  returns
under  combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 1996 marginal Federal
tax rates and marginal state tax  rates currently available and scheduled to  be
in  effect.  The  tables  incorporate  increased  tax  rates  for  higher-income
taxpayers that were  included in  the Revenue  Reconciliation Act  of 1993.  The
table  assumes that federal taxable  income is equal to  state income subject to
tax, and for  cases in which  more than one  state rate falls  within a  Federal
bracket,  the state rate corresponding to the highest income within that Federal
bracket is used. The combined state  and Federal tax brackets shown reflect  the
fact  that state tax payments are currently deductible for Federal tax purposes.
The table does  not reflect any  local taxes  or any taxes  other than  personal
income  tax.  The tables  illustrate  what you  would  have to  earn  on taxable
investments to equal the tax-exempt estimated current return for your income tax
bracket. A taxpayer's marginal tax rate  is affected by both his taxable  income
and  his  adjusted gross  income. Locate  your adjusted  gross and  your taxable
income (which  is your  adjusted  gross income  reduced  by any  deductions  and
exemptions),  then locate your tax bracket based  on joint or single tax filing.
Read across to the equivalent taxable estimated current return you would need to
match the tax-free income.
 
                                      B-3
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 40.1 $    0-117.95      19.5   %     5.59    5.90    6.21    6.52    6.83    7.14    7.45    7.76
    40.1- 96.9      0-117.95      31.5         6.57    6.93    7.30    7.66    8.03    8.39    8.76    9.12
               117.95-176.95      32.5         6.67    7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26
    96.9-147.7      0-117.95      34.5         6.87    7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54
               117.95-176.95      35.5         6.98    7.36    7.75    8.14    8.53    8.91    9.30    9.69
               176.95-299.45      38.0         7.26    7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08
  147.7-263.75 117.95-176.95      40.5         7.56    7.98    8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50
               176.95-299.45      43.5         7.96    8.41    8.85    9.29    9.73   10.18   10.62   11.06
                 Over 299.45      40.5   2     7.56    7.98    8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50
   Over 263.75 176.95-299.45      47.0         8.49    8.96    9.43    9.91   10.38   10.85   11.32   11.79
                 Over 299.45      44.0   3     8.04    8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $    0- 24.00 $    0-117.95      19.5   %     5.59    5.90    6.21    6.52    6.83    7.14    7.45    7.76
  24.00- 58.15      0-117.95      31.5         6.57    6.93    7.30    7.66    8.03    8.39    8.76    9.12
  58.15-121.30      0-117.95      34.5         6.87    7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54
               117.95-240.45      36.0         7.03    7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77
 121.30-263.75 117.95-240.45      41.0         7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
                 Over 240.45      40.5   2     7.56    7.98    8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50
   Over 263.75   Over 240.45      44.0   3     8.04    8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
      1 The table reflects the effect of the limitations on itemized  deductions
and  the  deduction for  personal exemptions.  They were  designed to  phase out
certain  benefits  of  these  deductions  for  higher  income  taxpayers.  These
limitations,  in effect, raise the current maximum marginal combined tax rate to
approximately 47.0 percent for taxpayers filing  a joint return and entitled  to
four  personal exemptions and to approximately 44.0 percent for taxpayers filing
a single return entitled to only  one personal exemption. These limitations  are
subject  to certain maximums,  which depend on the  number of exemptions claimed
and the total  amount of the  taxpayer's itemized deductions.  For example,  the
limitation  on itemized deductions will  not cause a taxpayer  to lose more than
80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
 
      2 Combined tax rate reverts to 39.2%  after the 80% cap on the  limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
      3  Combined tax rate reverts to 42.62% after the 80% cap on the limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
                                      B-4
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX C
                               GEORGIA DISCLOSURE
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--GEORGIA
 
    The  following brief summary regarding the  economy of Georgia is based upon
information drawn from publicly available  sources and is included for  purposes
of  providing information about general economic  conditions that may or may not
affect issuers of  the Georgia  obligations. The Sponsor  has not  independently
verified any of the information contained in such publicly available documents.
 
    CONSTITUTIONAL   CONSIDERATIONS.    The  Georgia  Constitution  permits  the
issuance by  the State  of general  obligation debt  and of  certain  guaranteed
revenue  debt. The State  may incur guaranteed revenue  debt by guaranteeing the
payment of  certain revenue  obligations  issued by  an instrumentality  of  the
State.   The  Georgia  Constitution  prohibits  the  incurring  of  any  general
obligation debt or guaranteed revenue debt if the highest aggregate annual  debt
service  requirement for the then current year or any subsequent fiscal year for
outstanding general obligation debt and  guaranteed revenue debt, including  the
proposed debt, exceed 10 percent of the total revenue receipts, less refunds, of
the  State treasury in the  fiscal year immediately preceding  the year in which
any such debt is to be incurred.
 
    The Georgia Constitution  also permits  the State  to incur  public debt  to
supply a temporary deficit in the State treasury in any fiscal year created by a
delay  in collecting the taxes  of that year. Such debt  must not exceed, in the
aggregate, 5% of the total revenue receipts, less refunds, of the State treasury
in the  fiscal  year  immediately preceding  the  year  in which  such  debt  is
incurred.  The debt  incurred must be  repaid on or  before the last  day of the
fiscal year in  which it  is to be  incurred out  of the taxes  levied for  that
fiscal  year. No such debt may  be incurred in any fiscal  year if there is then
outstanding unpaid debt  from any  previous fiscal  year which  was incurred  to
supply  a temporary deficit in  the State treasury. No  such short-term debt has
been incurred under  this provision  since the inception  of the  constitutional
authority referred to in this paragraph.
 
    Virtually  all of the issues  of long-term debt obligations  issued by or on
behalf of the State of Georgia and counties, municipalities and other  political
subdivisions  and public authorities thereof are required by law to be validated
and confirmed in a judicial proceeding prior to issuance. The legal effect of an
approved validation in Georgia  is to render incontestable  the validity of  the
pertinent bond issue and the security therefor.
 
    THE  STATE AND ITS ECONOMY.   The State operates  on a fiscal year beginning
July 1 and ending June 30. Thus, the  1994 fiscal year ended June 30, 1994.  The
state's  recovery  from the  recent economic  recession has  been steady  and is
better than regional trends, albeit half  the rate of earlier recoveries.  While
this  recovery does not meet  the explosive patterns set  in past cycles, recent
state data reveal that Georgia ranks among the top five states in the nation  in
employment  and total  population growth.  The 1992  annual average unemployment
rate for  Georgia was  6.9% as  compared  to the  1992 national  annual  average
unemployment rate of 7.4%. The 1993 annual average unemployment rate for Georgia
was  5.7% as compared to  the 1993 national annual  average unemployment rate of
6.7%. Throughout 1994, the monthly unemployment rate for Georgia (not seasonally
adjusted) has remained below the national average monthly unemployment rate (not
seasonally adjusted). In December 1994, Georgia's unemployment rate was 4.6%  as
compared  to  the national  average unemployment  rate  of 5.1%  (not seasonally
adjusted).
 
    Stronger economic trends  and conservative revenue  forecasting resulted  in
the  continuation of improved  financial results for the  fiscal year ended June
30, 1994. The state's general fund closed fiscal 1994 with a total fund  balance
position of $480.6 million, of which $249.5 million was in the revenue shortfall
reserve fund (3% of revenues), marking the second consecutive year of buildup in
that reserve. The midyear adjustment reserve was fully funded at $89.1 million.
 
    The  state's  fiscal 1995  adopted budget  called for  an increase  in state
spending to $9.8  billion, up  6.5% from the  prior period.  Economic growth  is
estimated  to be  in the 6%-8%  range for  the second straight  year. The budget
report forecasted general fund revenues to grow to $9.4 billion, an increase  of
$490.0  million, or 5.5% above actual fiscal 1994 levels. Sales and income taxes
account for  the  majority of  that  increase, despite  a  $100 million  cut  in
personal  income taxes. Additional  revenues provided by  lottery proceeds ($240
million) and indigent-care  trust fund  monies support  the remaining  spending.
Revenues  for the first three months of the current year are running nearly 8.4%
above fiscal 1994 levels. Most of the increase is attributable to the growth  in
personal  and  corporate  income  and  sales  taxes.  As  a  result,  the  state
anticipates that fiscal 1995 will once again produce positive financial results.
 
    The debt burden is low at only $593 per capita, or 3.3% of personal  income,
and 5% of expenditures.
 
                                      C-1
<PAGE>
    In  July, 1994, widespread  flooding in central  and southern Georgia caused
extensive damage and destruction of farmland, private residences, businesses and
local and state government facilities. As of July 12, 1994, Governor Zell Miller
refused to estimate the  dollar value of the  damage but other sources  estimate
that  damage could exceed  $300 million. Thirty-one  counties have been declared
federal disaster areas. Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and Standard and  Poor's
Corporation  are observing the  situation in Georgia,  but neither rating agency
has expressed any immediate credit concerns.
 
    BOND RATINGS.   Currently,  Moody's Investors  Service, Inc.  rates  Georgia
general  obligation bonds Aaa and Standard & Poor's Corporation rates such bonds
AA+.
 
    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.  Georgia is  involved in certain legal proceedings  that,
if  decided against the State, may require  the State to make significant future
expenditures or may substantially impair revenues.
 
    Three suits have been filed against the State of Georgia seeking refunds  of
liquor  taxes under O.C.G.A. Section 48-2-35,  in light of BACCHUS IMPORTS, LTD.
V. DIAS,  468 U.S.  263 (1984)  under Georgia's  pre-BACCHUS statute.  In  JAMES
B.BEAM DISTILLING CO. V. STATE, 501 U.S. 529 (decided June 20, 1991) the Supreme
Court  indicated that  BACCHUS was  retroactive, but  only within  the bounds of
State statutes of  limitations and  procedural bars,  and left  State courts  to
determine  any remedy in light  of reliance interests, equitable considerations,
and other defenses. Georgia's statute of limitations in O.C.G.A. Section 48-2-35
has run on all pre-BACCHUS claims for refund except five pending claims  seeking
31.7 million dollars in tax plus interest. On remand, the Fulton County Superior
Court  has ruled  that procedural  bars and other  defenses bar  any recovery by
taxpayers on Beam's claims for refund.  The Georgia Supreme Court has  affirmed,
and  Beam's petition  to the  United States  Supreme Court  for a  rehearing was
denied on February 21, 1995.
 
    In BOARD  OF  PUBLIC  EDUCATION  FOR SAVANNAH/CHATHAM  COUNTY  V.  STATE  OF
GEORGIA,  the local school board claimed that the State should finance the major
portion of the costs of its desegregation program. The Savannah Board originally
requested restitution in  the amount of  $30 million, but  the Federal  District
Court  set forth a formula which would require  a State payment in the amount of
approximately $6 million. Subsequently the  parties agreed to a settlement,  the
terms  of which have not  been finalized. The proposed  settlement calls for the
State to pay approximately $10 million to the school board. A similar  complaint
has  been filed by DeKalb  County and there are  approximately five other school
districts which potentially might attempt to file similar claims. In the  DeKalb
County  case  alone, the  plaintiffs appear  to  be seeking  approximately $67.5
million of restitution. The DeKalb case has recently been tried and is  awaiting
final argument and decision.
 
    On  December  6, 1994  the Supreme  Court  ruled in  REICH V.  COLLINS, that
Georgia had employed a "bait-and-switch" scheme to tax federal pension income in
the State and then to deny retirees'  requests for a tax refund. The Court  left
it  up  to  the  Georgia  Supreme Court  to  provide  retirees  with "meaningful
backward-looking relief." Governor Zell Miller tentatively agreed that the State
would pay such retirees  $108 million. The State  potentially owes another  $100
million  to those federal retirees who did not apply for a refund by the State's
April 1992 deadline.  The Chairman  of the Georgia  State Senate  Appropriations
Committee  said that  the Georgia  budget could  absorb the  impact of  the $108
million settlement.
 
    The foregoing information does  not purport to be  a complete or  exhaustive
description  of all  conditions to  which the  issuers of  Bonds in  the Georgia
Insured Trust are subject. Many factors including national economic, social  and
environmental  policies and conditions, which are  not within the control of the
issuers of Bonds could affect or could  have an adverse impact on the  financial
condition  of the State and various  agencies and political subdivisions located
in the  State. Since  Georgia Bonds  in the  Georgia Insured  Trust (other  than
general  obligation bonds issued by the  State) are payable from revenue derived
from a specific source or authority, the  impact of a pronounced decline in  the
national  economy  or difficulties  in significant  industries within  the State
could result in a decrease in the  amount of revenues realized from such  source
or  by such authority  and thus adversely  affect the ability  of the respective
issuers of  the Georgia  Bonds in  the Georgia  Insured Trust  to pay  the  debt
service  requirements  on the  Georgia Bonds.  Similarly, such  adverse economic
developments could result in  a decrease in tax  revenues realized by the  State
and thus could adversely affect the ability of the State to pay the debt service
requirements  of any  Georgia general  obligation bonds  in the  Georgia Insured
Trust.
 
GEORGIA TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current  returns
for  individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current returns
under combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 1996 marginal  Federal
tax  rates and marginal state tax rates  currently available and scheduled to be
in  effect.  The  tables  incorporate  increased  tax  rates  for  higher-income
taxpayers  that were  included in  the Revenue  Reconciliation Act  of 1993. The
table assumes that federal  taxable income is equal  to state income subject  to
tax, and for cases in
 
                                      C-2
<PAGE>
which more than one state rate falls within a Federal bracket, the highest state
rate  corresponding to the  highest income within that  Federal bracket is used.
The combined state and  Federal tax brackets shown  reflect the fact that  state
tax  payments are currently deductible for  Federal tax purposes. The table does
not reflect any local taxes or any  taxes other than personal income taxes.  The
tables  illustrate what you would  have to earn on  taxable investments to equal
the  tax-exempt  estimated  current  return  for  your  income  tax  bracket.  A
taxpayer's  marginal tax  rate is  affected by both  his taxable  income and his
adjusted gross income. Locate your adjusted gross and your taxable income (which
is your adjusted gross  income reduced by any  deductions and exemptions),  then
locate  your tax bracket based on joint or single tax filing. Read across to the
equivalent taxable estimated current return you would need to match the tax-free
income.
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 40.1 $    0-117.95      20.0   %     5.63    5.94    6.25    6.56    6.88    7.19    7.50    7.81
    40.1- 96.9      0-117.95      32.5         6.67    7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26
               117.95-176.95      33.0         6.72    7.09    7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33
    96.9-147.7      0-117.95      35.0         6.92    7.31    7.69    8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62
               117.95-176.95      36.0         7.03    7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77
               176.95-299.45      38.5         7.32    7.72    8.13    8.54    8.94    9.35    9.76   10.16
  147.7-263.75 117.95-176.95      41.0         7.63    8.13    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
               176.95-299.45      43.5         7.96    8.41    8.85    9.29    9.73   10.18   10.62   11.06
                 Over 299.45      41.0   2     7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
   Over 263.75 176.95-299.45      47.5         8.57    9.05    9.52   10.00   10.48   10.95   11.43   11.90
                 Over 299.45      44.5   3     8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $    0- 24.00 $    0-117.95      20.0         5.63    5.94    6.25    6.56    6.88    7.19    7.50    7.81
  24.00- 58.15      0-117.95      32.5         6.67    7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26
  58.15-121.30      0-117.95      35.0         6.92    7.31    7.69    8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62
               117.95-240.45      36.5         7.09    7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84
 121.30-263.75 117.95-240.45      41.5         7.69    8.12    8.55    8.97    9.40    9.83   10.26   10.68
                 Over 240.45      41.0   2     7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
   Over 263.75   Over 240.45      44.5   3     8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
      1 The table reflects the effect of the limitations on itemized  deductions
and  the  deduction for  personal exemptions.  They were  designed to  phase out
certain  benefits  of  these  deductions  for  higher  income  taxpayers.  These
limitations,  in effect, raise the current maximum marginal combined tax rate to
approximately 47.48 percent for taxpayers filing a joint return and entitled  to
four personal exemptions and to approximately 44.45 percent for taxpayers filing
a  single return entitled to only  one personal exemption. These limitations are
subject to certain maximums,  which depend on the  number of exemptions  claimed
and  the total  amount of the  taxpayer's itemized deductions.  For example, the
limitation on itemized deductions  will not cause a  taxpayer to lose more  than
80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
 
      2  Combined tax rate reverts to 39.84% after the 80% cap on the limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
      3 Combined tax rate reverts to 43.22% after the 80% cap on the  limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
                                      C-3
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX D
                            MASSACHUSETTS DISCLOSURE
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--MASSACHUSETTS
 
   
    Except   to  the  extent  the   Massachusetts  Trust  invests  in  temporary
investments, the Massachusetts Trust  will invest substantially  all of its  net
assets  in  Massachusetts  Municipal  Obligations.  The  Massachusetts  Trust is
therefore susceptible  to political,  economic or  regulatory factors  affecting
issuers   of  Massachusetts  Municipal  Obligations.  Without  intending  to  be
complete, the following briefly summarizes  the current financial situation,  as
well  as some of the  complex factors affecting the  financial situation, in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "COMMONWEALTH").  It is derived from  sources
that  are generally available to  investors and is based  in part on information
obtained from various agencies in Massachusetts. No independent verification has
been made of the accuracy or completeness of the following information.
    
 
    There can  be no  assurance that  current or  future statewide  or  regional
economic  difficulties,  and  the  resulting  impact  on  Commonwealth  or local
governmental finances generally, will not  adversely affect the market value  of
Massachusetts  Obligations in the Trust or the ability of particular obligors to
make timely payments of debt service on (or relating to) those obligations.
 
   
    Since 1988,  there has  been a  significant slowdown  in the  Commonwealth's
economy,  as indicated by  a rise in  unemployment, a slowing  of its per capita
income  growth   and  declining   state  revenues.   Since  fiscal   1991,   the
Commonwealth's   revenues   for   state   government   programs   have  exceeded
expenditures; however, no assurance  can be given that  lower than expected  tax
revenues will not resume and continue.
    
 
   
    1996  FISCAL  YEAR  BUDGET.   On  July  21, 1995,  the  Governor  signed the
Commonwealth's budget  for fiscal  1996.  The fiscal  1996  budget is  based  on
estimated  budgeted revenues and other sources of approximately $16.778 billion,
which includes fiscal  1996 tax  revenues of $11.653  billion. Estimated  fiscal
1996  tax revenues are approximately $490 million, or 4.3% higher than estimated
fiscal 1995 tax revenues.
    
 
   
    Fiscal  1996  non-tax  revenues  are  projected  to  total  $5.158  billion,
approximately  $66 million,  or 1.3% less  than fiscal 1995  non-tax revenues of
approximately $5.224 billion. Federal  reimbursements are projected to  decrease
by  approximately $1 million from approximately $2.970 billion in fiscal 1995 to
approximately $2.969 billion in fiscal 1996, primarily as a result of  increased
reimbursements  for Medicare spending,  offset by a  reduction in reimbursements
received in 1995  for one-time  Medicare expenses  incurred in  fiscal 1994  and
fiscal  1995.  Fiscal 1996  departmental revenues  are  projected to  decline by
approximately $94 million, or 7.4%, from approximately $1.273 billion in  fiscal
1995  to approximately $1.179 billion in fiscal 1996. Major changes in projected
non-tax received for fiscal 1996 include a decline in motor vehicle license  and
registration  fees, reduction of abandoned property  revenues and a decrease due
to non-recurring revenues  received in  fiscal 1995 from  hospitals and  nursing
homes  as part of  Medicare fiscal rate settlements  and other reimbursements by
municipal hospitals to the state.
    
 
   
    Fiscal  1996  appropriations   in  the  Annual   Appropriations  Act   total
approximately   $16.847   billion,  including   approximately  $25   million  in
gubernatorial vetoes overridden  by the legislature.  In the final  supplemental
budget  for fiscal 1995, approved  on August 24, 1995,  another $71.1 million of
appropriations were continued for use in 1996.
    
 
   
    As of  February  1, 1996,  the  Governor had  signed  into law  fiscal  1996
supplemental  appropriations  totalling approximately  $23.5  million, including
approximately $12.6  million  to  fund higher  education  collective  bargaining
contracts  and  $5.6  million  for  the  Department  of  Social  Services. These
appropriations  were  offset  by  approximately  $10.4  million  in  line   item
reductions,  including a reduction of $9.8  million for the state's debt service
contract assistance  to  the  MBTA.  Both  the  House  and  Senate  have  passed
supplemental  appropriation bills totalling $64.8  million primarily relating to
snow and ice  removal costs  incurred by both  the Commonwealth  and cities  and
towns.  The bills are currently awaiting resolution by a conference committee of
the House and Senate.  On January 26,  1996 and February  9, 1996, the  Governor
filed  additional supplemental appropriation  bills totalling approximately $7.3
million  for  costs  relating   to  prison  overcrowding   relief  as  well   as
reimbursement costs associated with a court settlement. No action has been taken
on these bills by either branch of the Legislature.
    
 
   
    As  of May 28, 1996, fiscal 1996 projected spending is approximately $16.963
billion, including  approximately  $153.2 million  reserved  for  contingencies.
Projected  revenues  are  approximately  $16.851 billion.  The  fiscal  1996 tax
revenue  projection  is  $11.684  billion,  which  represents  an  increase   of
approximately  $80 million  from the  earlier estimate,  based upon  tax revenue
collections through April 1996.
    
 
   
    The fiscal 1996 budget is based  on numerous spending and revenue  estimates
the achievement of which cannot be assured.
    
 
                                      D-1
<PAGE>
   
    1995  FISCAL YEAR.__Budgeted  revenues and other  sources, including non-tax
revenues,  collected  in  fiscal   1995  were  approximately  $16.387   billion,
approximately  $837  million,  or 5.4%  above  fiscal 1994  revenues  of $15.550
billion.  Fiscal  1995  tax  revenues  collections  were  approximately  $11.163
billion,  approximately $12  million above  the Department  of Revenue's revised
fiscal year 1995 tax  revenue estimate of $10.151  billion and $556 million,  or
5.2% above fiscal year tax revenues of $10.607 billion.
    
 
   
    Budgeted   expenditures  and  other  uses  of  funds  in  fiscal  1995  were
approximately $16.251 billion, approximately $728 million, or 4.7% above  fiscal
1994 budgeted expenditures and uses of $15.523 billion.
    
 
   
    The  Commonwealth ended fiscal  1995 with an operating  gain of $137 million
and an ending fund balance of $726 million.
    
 
   
    On February 10, 1995,  the Governor signed into  law certain reforms to  the
Commonwealth's  program  for Aid  to Families  with Dependent  Children ("AFDC")
which will take effect on July 1,  1995, subject to federal approval of  certain
waivers.  The revised program reduces AFDC benefits to able bodied recipients by
2.75%, while  allowing them  to keep  a larger  portion of  their earned  wages,
requires  approximately 22,000  able-bodied parents  of school-aged  children to
work  or  perform  community  service  for  20  hours  per  week  and   requires
approximately  16,000 recipients who  have children between the  ages of two and
six to participate  in an  education or  training program  or perform  community
service.  The plan also establishes a pilot program for up to 2,000 participants
that offers  tax  credits and  wage  subsidies  to employers  who  hire  welfare
recipients.  Parents who find employment will  be provided with extended medical
benefits and day care benefits  for up to one  year. The plan mandates  paternal
identification, expands funding for anti-fraud initiatives, and requires parents
on  AFDC to  immunize their  children. Parents  who are  disabled, caring  for a
disabled child, have a child under the  age of two, or are teen-agers living  at
home  and attending high school, will continue to receive cash assistance. Since
most provisions  of the  new law  do not  take effect  until July  1, 1995,  the
Executive   Office  for  Administration  projects  that  the  reforms  will  not
materially affect  fiscal  1995  public assistance  spending.  The  fiscal  1995
expenditure  estimate of $16.449 billion includes $247.8 million appropriated to
fund the Commonwealth's public assistance programs  for the last four months  of
fiscal  1995. The Commonwealth  is currently evaluating the  new law's impact on
fiscal 1996 projected spending for public assistance programs.
    
 
    On November 8, 1994, the voters  in the statewide general election  approved
an  initiative petition that would slightly increase the portion of the gasoline
tax revenue credited to the Highway Fund, one of the Commonwealth's three  major
budgetary  funds, prohibit the transfer of money  from the Highway Fund to other
funds for non-highway purposes and not permit including the Highway Fund balance
in the  computation "consolidated  net surplus"  for purposes  of state  finance
laws.  The initiative petition also  provides that no more  than 15% of gasoline
tax revenues may be used for mass transportation purposes, such as  expenditures
related  to the  Massachusetts Bay  Transit Authority.  The Executive  Office of
Administration and  Finance is  analyzing the  effect, if  any, this  initiative
petition,  which became  law on December  8, 1994,  may have on  the fiscal 1995
budget and  it currently  does not  expect  it to  have any  materially  adverse
impact.  This is not a  constitutional amendment and is  subject to amendment or
repeal by the  Legislature, which  may also,  notwithstanding the  terms of  the
petition,  appropriate moneys from the Highway Fund in such amounts and for such
purposes as it  determines, subject  only to a  constitutional restriction  that
such moneys be used for highways or mass transit purposes.
 
    1994  FISCAL YEAR.   Fiscal 1994 tax  revenue collections were approximately
$10.607 billion, $87 million below the Department of Revenue's fiscal year  1994
tax  revenue estimate of $10.694 billion and  $677 million above fiscal 1993 tax
revenues of  $9.930  billion. Budgeted  revenues  and other  sources,  including
non-tax  revenues, collected in fiscal  1994 were approximately $15.550 billion.
Total revenues and  other sources  increased by approximately  5.7% from  fiscal
1993  to fiscal 1994 while  tax revenues increased by  6.8% for the same period.
Budgeted expenditures and other uses of funds in fiscal 1994 were  approximately
$15.523  billion,  which is  $826.5 million  or  approximately 5.6%  higher than
fiscal 1993 budgeted expenditures and other uses.
 
    As of June  30, 1994, the  Commonwealth showed a  year-end cash position  of
approximately $757 million, as compared to a projected position of $599 million.
 
    In  June, 1993,  the Legislature  adopted and  the Governor  signed into law
comprehensive  education  reform  legislation.  This  legislation  required   an
increase  in expenditures for education purposes above fiscal 1993 base spending
of $1.288 billion of  approximately $175 million in  fiscal 1994. The  Executive
Office   for  Administration  and  Finance   expects  the  annual  increases  in
expenditures above  the  fiscal 1993  base  spending  of $1.288  billion  to  be
approximately  $396 million in fiscal 1995, $625 million in fiscal 1996 and $868
million in fiscal 1997. Additional annual  increases are also expected in  later
fiscal  years. The fiscal  1995 budget as  signed by the  Governor includes $896
million in appropriations to satisfy this legislation.
 
                                      D-2
<PAGE>
    1993 FISCAL YEAR.  The  Commonwealth's budgeted expenditures and other  uses
were approximately $14.696 billion in fiscal 1993, which is approximately $1.280
billion  or  9.6% higher  than fiscal  1992 expenditures  and other  uses. Final
fiscal 1993 budgeted expenditures were $23  million lower than the initial  July
1992 estimates of fiscal 1993 budgeted expenditures. Budgeted revenues and other
sources  for fiscal 1993  totalled approximately $14.710  billion, including tax
revenues of  $9.930  billion. Total  revenues  and other  sources  increased  by
approximately 6.9% from fiscal 1992 to fiscal 1993, while tax revenues increased
by  4.7%  for the  same period.  Overall, fiscal  1993 ended  with a  surplus of
revenues and other sources over expenditures and other uses of $13.1 million and
aggregate  ending  fund  balances  in  the  budgeted  operating  funds  of   the
Commonwealth  of  approximately $562.5  million. After  payment  in full  of the
distribution of local aid to the  Commonwealth's cities and towns ("Local  Aid")
and  the retirement of short term debt,  the Commonwealth showed a year end cash
position of approximately $622.2 million, as compared to a projected position of
$485.1 million.
 
    1992 FISCAL YEAR.  The  Commonwealth's budgeted expenditures and other  uses
were approximately $13.4 billion in fiscal 1992, which is $238.7 million or 1.7%
lower  than  fiscal  1991  budgeted  expenditures.  Final  fiscal  1992 budgeted
expenditures were $300  million more  than the  initial July  1991 estimates  of
budgetary  expenditures,  due in  part to  increases  in certain  human services
programs, including an increase of $268.7  million for the Medicaid program  and
$50.0  million  for  mental retardation  consent  decree  requirements. Budgeted
revenues and other sources for fiscal 1992 totalled approximately $13.7  billion
(including  tax revenues of approximately  $9.5 billion), reflecting an increase
of approximately 0.7% from fiscal  1991 to 1992 and an  increase of 5.4% in  tax
revenues  for the same period.  Overall, fiscal 1992 is  estimated to have ended
with an excess of revenues and other sources over expenditures and other uses of
$312.3 million. After  payment in  full of  Local Aid  in the  amount of  $514.0
million  due  on June  30, 1992,  retirement  of the  Commonwealth's outstanding
commercial paper  (except for  approximately $50  million of  bond  anticipation
notes)  and certain other short term borrowings, as of June 30, 1992, the end of
fiscal 1992, the Commonwealth showed  a year-end cash position of  approximately
$731 million, as compared with the Commonwealth's cash balance of $182.3 million
at the end of fiscal 1991.
 
    1991  FISCAL YEAR.  Budgeted expenditures for fiscal 1991 were approximately
$13.659 billion, as against budgeted revenues and other sources of approximately
$13.634 billion. The  Commonwealth suffered an  operating loss of  approximately
$21.2  million. Application of the adjusted  fiscal 1990 fund balances of $258.3
million resulted in a fiscal 1991 budgetary surplus of $237.1 million. State law
requires that approximately $59.2 million of the fiscal year ending balances  of
$237.1  million be placed in the Stabilization  Fund, a reserve from which funds
can be appropriated (i) to make up any difference between actual state  revenues
in  any fiscal year  in which actual  revenues fall below  the allowable amount,
(ii) to replace state and local losses by federal funds or (iii) for any  event,
as  determined by the legislature, which threatens the health, safety or welfare
of the  people  or the  fiscal  stability of  the  Commonwealth or  any  of  its
political subdivisions.
 
    Upon  taking office in January  1991, the new Governor  proposed a series of
legislative and  administrative  actions, including  withholding  of  allotments
under  Section 9C of Chapter  29 of the General  Laws, intended to eliminate the
projected deficits.  The  new Governor's  review  of the  Commonwealth's  budget
indicated  projected spending of  approximately $14.1 billion  with an estimated
$850 million in  budget balancing  measures that would  be needed  prior to  the
close  of fiscal  1991. At  that time,  estimated tax  revenues were  revised to
approximately $8.8 billion, $903 million less than was estimated at the time the
fiscal 1991  budget  was  adopted.  The Legislature  adopted  a  number  of  the
Governor's  recommendations and the Governor took certain administrative actions
not requiring legislative approval, including  the adoption of a state  employee
furlough  program. It is estimated by  the Commonwealth that spending reductions
achieved  through  savings  initiatives  and  withholding  of  allotments  total
approximately  $484.3  million  in  aggregate for  fiscal  1991.  However, these
savings and reductions may be impacted negatively by litigation pursued by third
parties concerning the Governor's actions under Section 9C of Chapter 29 of  the
General Laws and with regard to the state employee furlough program.
 
    In  addition, the new administration  in May 1991 filed  an amendment to its
Medicaid state  plan that  enables  it to  claim  50% federal  reimbursement  on
uncompensated  care payments  for certain  hospitals in  the Commonwealth.  As a
result, in fiscal 1991, the Commonwealth obtained additional non-tax revenues in
the form  of  federal reimbursements  equal  to approximately  $513  million  on
account  of uncompensated care payments. This reimbursement claim was based upon
recent amendments of federal law contained in the Omnibus Budget  Reconciliation
Act   of  1990  and,  consequently,  on  relatively  undeveloped  federal  laws,
regulations and guidelines. At the request of the federal Health Care  Financing
Administration,  the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department
of Health and Human  Services has commenced an  audit of the reimbursement.  The
administration,  which had  reviewed the matter  with the  Health Care Financing
Administration  prior  to   claiming  the  reimbursement,   believes  that   the
Commonwealth  will prevail in  the audit. If the  Commonwealth does not prevail,
the Commonwealth  would  have the  right  to contest  an  appeal, but  could  be
required to pay all or part of Medicaid reimbursements with interest and to have
such amount deducted from future reimbursement payments.
 
                                      D-3
<PAGE>
   
    EMPLOYMENT.   Reversing  a trend of  relatively low  unemployment during the
early and  mid 1980's,  the Massachusetts  unemployment rate  beginning in  1990
increased  significantly to where the  Commonwealth's unemployment rate exceeded
the national unemployment rate. During 1990, the Massachusetts unemployment rate
increased from 4.5% in January to 6.1%  in July to 6.7% in August. During  1991,
the  Massachusetts  unemployment rate  averaged  9.0% while  the  average United
States unemployment rate  was 6.7%. The  Massachusetts unemployment rate  during
1992  averaged 8.5% while the average  United States unemployment rate was 7.4%.
Since 1993, the  average monthly  unemployment rate has  declined steadily.  The
Massachusetts  unemployment rate in February 1996 was 5.0%, as compared with the
United States unemployment rate of 5.5% for the same period. Other factors which
may significantly and adversely affect  the employment rate in the  Commonwealth
include reductions in federal government spending on defense-related industries.
Due   to  this  and  other  considerations,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that
unemployment in the Commonwealth will not increase in the future.
    
 
    DEBT RATINGS.   S&P  currently rates  the Commonwealth's  uninsured  general
obligation  bonds at A+. At the same  time, S&P currently rates state and agency
notes at SP1. From 1989 through 1992, the Commonwealth had experienced a  steady
decline  in its  S&P rating, with  its decline  beginning in May  1989, when S&P
lowered its  rating on  the Commonwealth's  general obligation  bonds and  other
Commonwealth  obligations  from AA+  to AA  and continuing  a series  of further
reductions until March 1992, when the rating was affirmed at BBB.
 
    Moody's currently  rates  the Commonwealth's  uninsured  general  obligation
bonds  at A1. From 1989 through 1992,  the Commonwealth had experienced a steady
decline in its rating by  Moody's since May 1989.  In May 1989, Moody's  lowered
its  rating on the Commonwealth's  notes from MIG-1 to  MIG-2, and its rating on
the Commonwealth's commercial paper from P-1  to P-2. On June 21, 1989,  Moody's
reduced  the Commonwealth's general obligation rating  from Aa to A. On November
15, 1989, Moody's reduced the  rating on the Commonwealth's general  obligations
from  A  to Baa1,  and  on March  9,  1990, Moody's  reduced  the rating  of the
Commonwealth's general obligation bonds from Baa1 to Baa.
 
    There can be no assurance that these ratings will continue.
 
    In recent  years, the  Commonwealth and  certain of  its public  bodies  and
municipalities have faced serious financial difficulties which have affected the
credit  standing  and borrowing  abilities of  Massachusetts and  its respective
entities and may have contributed to higher interest rates on debt  obligations.
The continuation of, or an increase in, such financial difficulties could result
in  declines  in  the market  values  of,  or default  on,  existing obligations
including Massachusetts Obligations  in the  Trust. Should there  be during  the
term  of  the Trust  a financial  crisis relating  to Massachusetts,  its public
bodies or municipalities, the market value and marketability of all  outstanding
bonds  issued by the  Commonwealth and its  public authorities or municipalities
including the Massachusetts Obligations in the Trust and interest income to  the
Trust could be adversely affected.
 
   
    TOTAL  BOND  AND  NOTE  LIABILITIES.    The  total  general  obligation bond
indebtedness of  the  Commonwealth  (including Dedicated  Income  Tax  Debt  and
Special  Obligation Debt) as of April 1, 1996 was approximately $10.093 billion.
There were also  outstanding approximately  $240 million  in general  obligation
notes  and other  short term  general obligation debt.  The total  bond and note
liabilities of the Commonwealth as of  April 1, 1996, including guaranteed  bond
and contingent liabilities, was approximately $13.818 billion.
    
 
   
    DEBT  SERVICE.    During  the  1980s,  capital  expenditures  were increased
substantially, which  has had  a short  term impact  on the  cash needs  of  the
Commonwealth  and also  accounts for a  significant rise in  debt service during
that period.  In November,  1988, the  Executive Office  for Administration  and
Finance  established an administrative limit  on state-financed capital spending
in  the  Capital  Projects  Fund  of  $925  million  per  fiscal  year.  Capital
expenditures were $847.0 million, $694.1 million, $575.9 million, $760.6 million
and  $902.2 million in  fiscal 1991, fiscal  1992, fiscal 1993,  fiscal 1994 and
fiscal  1995,  respectively.  Commonwealth-financed  capital  expenditures   are
projected  to  be  approximately $898.0  million  in fiscal  1996.  Debt service
expenditures for fiscal 1991, fiscal 1992,  fiscal 1993, fiscal 1994 and  fiscal
1995  were $942.3 million,  $898.3 million, $1.140  billion, $1.149 billion, and
$1.231 billion,  respectively,  and are  projected  to be  approximately  $1.199
billion  for fiscal 1996. The amounts represented do not include debt service on
notes issued  to  finance  certain Medicare-related  liabilities,  certain  debt
service   contract  assistance  payment   to  Massachusetts  Bay  Transportation
Authority  ($205.5  million  projected   in  fiscal  1996),  the   Massachusetts
Convention  Center ($24.6 million  projected in fiscal  1996), the Massachusetts
Government Land Bank ($6.0 million projected in fiscal 1996), the  Massachusetts
Water  Pollution Abatement Trust  ($16.6 million projected  in fiscal 1996), and
grants to municipalities under the school building assistance program to  defray
a  portion  of the  debt service  costs  on local  school bonds  ($174.5 million
projected in fiscal 1996).
    
 
    In January 1990, legislation  was passed to impose  a limit on debt  service
beginning  in  fiscal  1991,  providing  that no  more  than  10%  of  the total
appropriations in any fiscal  year may be expended  for payment of interest  and
 
                                      D-4
<PAGE>
   
principal  on general obligation debt (excluding the Fiscal Recovery Bonds). The
percentage of total  appropriations expended from  the budgeted operating  funds
for  debt service (excluding  debt service on Fiscal  Recovery Bonds) for fiscal
1994 is 5.6%, which is projected to increase to 5.9% in fiscal 1995.
    
 
    CERTAIN  LIABILITIES.    Among  the  material  future  liabilities  of   the
Commonwealth  are  significant unfunded  general  liabilities of  its retirement
systems and a program to fund  such liabilities; a program whereby, starting  in
1978,  the  Commonwealth began  assuming full  financial responsibility  for all
costs of  the  administration of  justice  within the  Commonwealth;  continuing
demands to raise aggregate aid to cities, towns, schools and other districts and
transit  authorities above current levels;  and Medicaid expenditures which have
increased each year since the program was initiated. The Commonwealth has signed
consent decrees to continue  improving mental health care  and programs for  the
mentally  retarded in order to meet federal standards, including those governing
receipt of federal  reimbursements under  various programs, and  the parties  in
those cases have worked cooperatively to resolve the disputed issues.
 
   
    As  a result  of comprehensive  legislation approved  in January,  1988, the
Commonwealth is  required,  beginning in  fiscal  1989 to  fund  future  pension
liabilities  currently and  to amortize the  Commonwealth's unfunded liabilities
over 40 years. The funding schedule must provide for annual payments in each  of
the ten years ending fiscal 1998 which are at least equal to the total estimated
pay-as-you-go  pension costs in each year. As  a result of this requirement, the
funding requirements  for  fiscal 1996,  1997,  and  1998 are  estimates  to  be
increased  to approximately $1.007  billion, $1.061 billion  and $1.128 billion,
respectively.
    
 
   
    LITIGATION.   The  Commonwealth is  engaged  in various  lawsuits  involving
environmental  and related  laws, including an  action brought on  behalf of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alleging violations of the Clean Water  Act
and  seeking to enforce  the clean-up of  Boston Harbor. The  MWRA, successor in
liability  to  the  Metropolitan   District  Commission,  has  assumed   primary
responsibility  for developing  and implementing  a court-approved  plan for the
construction of the  treatment facilities necessary  to achieve compliance  with
federal  requirements. Under the Clean Water Act, the Commonwealth may be liable
for costs of compliance in these or any other Clean Water cases if the MWRA or a
municipality is  prevented from  raising  revenues necessary  to comply  with  a
judgment. The MWRA currently projects that the total cost of construction of the
treatment  facilities required under  the court's order  is approximately $3.557
billion in current dollars, with approximately $1.046 billion to be spent on  or
after  June 30,  1995. On  October 18,  1995, the  court entered  an order which
reduced the MWRA's  obligation to build  certain additional secondary  treatment
facilities,  which is estimated  by the MWRA  will save ratepayers approximately
$165 million.
    
 
   
    The Department of  Public Welfare  has been  sued for  the alleged  unlawful
denial  of  personal  care  attendant  services  to  certain  disabled  Medicaid
recipients. The Superior Court has denied the plaintiff's motion for preliminary
injunction and has also denied  the plaintiff's motion for class  certification.
If  the plaintiffs  were to  prevail on their  claims and  the Commonwealth were
required to  provide  all  of the  services  sought  by the  plaintiffs  to  all
similarly  situated persons, it would substantially  increase the annual cost to
the Commonwealth if these  services are eventually  required. The Department  of
Public  Welfare currently estimates this increase to  be as much as $200 million
per year.
    
 
    There are  also  actions  pending  in which  recipients  of  human  services
benefits,  such as welfare  recipients, the mentally  retarded, the elderly, the
handicapped, children, residents of state  hospitals and inmates of  corrections
institutions,  seek  expanded  levels  of services  and  benefits  and  in which
providers of services to such recipients  challenge the rates at which they  are
reimbursed  by  the Commonwealth.  To  the extent  that  such actions  result in
judgments requiring the Commonwealth to provide expanded services or benefits or
pay increased  rates, additional  operating and  capital expenditures  might  be
needed to implement such judgments.
 
   
    In 1995, the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital ("Spaulding") filed an action
to  enforce an agreement to acquire its property by eminent domain in connection
with the Central  Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel  Project. If successful,  Spaulding
could  recover  the  fair  market  value of  its  property  in  addition  to its
relocation costs  with  respect  to  its  personal  property.  The  Commonwealth
estimates its potential liability at approximately $50 million.
    
 
   
    The  Commonwealth faces  an additional potential  liability of approximately
$40 million in connection with a taking by the Massachusetts Highway  Department
related to the relocation of Northern Avenue in Boston.
    
 
   
    In  addition, there are several tax matters in litigation which could result
in significant refunds to taxpayers if decisions unfavorable to the Commonwealth
are rendered. In BAYBANK, ET AL. V. COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE, the banks challenge
the inclusion of income from tax exempt  obligations in the measure of the  bank
excise  tax. The  Appellate Tax Board  issued findings  of fact and  a report in
favor of the Commissioner of Revenue on September 30, 1993. The case is  pending
before  the Supreme Judicial Court. The potential liability is approximately $55
million, including similarly situated banks and tax years after 1990.
    
 
                                      D-5
<PAGE>
   
    In  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOVERNMENT  EMPLOYEES  V.  COMMONWEALTH,  the
Superior  Court  declared  that  a  line  item  in  the  Commonwealth's  general
appropriations  act  for  fiscal  1994  that  increased  the  state   employees'
percentage  share  of their  group  health insurance  premiums  from 10%  to 15%
violated the terms  of several collective  bargaining agreements, and  therefore
was invalid under the United States Constitution as regards employees covered by
the  agreements. On  February 9,  1995, the  Supreme Judicial  Court vacated the
Superior Court's decision and  declared that the fiscal  1994 line item did  not
violate  the contracts  clause. In June,  1995, the United  States Supreme Court
denied the plaintiff's  writ of certiorari.  Several other unions  have filed  a
companion  suit  asserting that  the premium  increase similarly  violated other
collective bargaining  agreements. The  latter suit  is in  its initial  stages.
Prior  to  the Supreme  Judicial Court's  decision the  Commonwealth's aggregate
liability is estimated to be approximately $32 million.
    
 
   
    A variety of  other civil suits  pending against the  Commonwealth may  also
affect  its future liabilities.  These include challenges  to the Commonwealth's
allocation of school aid under Section 9C of Chapter 29 of the General Laws  and
to  adopt a state employee furlough program. No prediction is possible as to the
ultimate outcome of these proceedings.
    
 
   
    On March 22, 1995, the Supreme Judicial Court held in PERINI CORPORATION  V.
COMMISSION OF REVENUES that certain deductions from the net worth measure of the
Massachusetts  corporate excise  tax violate the  Commerce Clause  of the United
States Constitution. On October 2, 1995, the United States Supreme Court  denied
the  Commonwealth's petition for  writ of certiorari.  The Department of Revenue
estimates that tax revenues in the amount of $40 to $55 million may be abated as
a result of the Supreme Judicial Court's decision.
    
 
   
    Many factors, in addition to those cited  above, have or may have a  bearing
upon  the financial condition of the Commonwealth, including social and economic
conditions, many of which are not within the control of the Commonwealth.
    
 
    EXPENDITURE AND TAX LIMITATION  MEASURES.  Limits  have been established  on
state  tax revenues by legislation approved by  the Governor on October 25, 1986
and by an initiative petition  approved by the voters  on November 4, 1986.  The
Executive  Office for Administration and  Finance currently estimates that state
tax revenues will not reach the limit imposed by either the initiative  petition
or the legislative enactment in fiscal 1992.
 
    Proposition  2 1/2, passed by the voters in 1980, led to large reductions in
property taxes,  the major  source of  income for  cities and  towns, and  large
increases in state aid to offset such revenue losses. According to the Executive
Office  for Administration and Finance, all of the 351 cities and towns have now
achieved a property  tax level of  no more  than 2.5% of  full property  values.
Under the terms of Proposition 2 1/2, the property tax levy can now be increased
annually for all cities and towns, almost all by 2.5% of the prior fiscal year's
tax  levy  plus  2.5%  of  the  value  of  new  properties  and  of  significant
improvements to  property.  Legislation  has also  been  enacted  providing  for
certain  local  option  taxes.  A  voter  initiative  petition  approved  at the
statewide general election in November, 1990 further regulates the  distribution
of  Local Aid of no  less than 40% of  collections from individual income taxes,
sales and  use taxes,  corporate excise  taxes,  and the  balance of  the  state
lottery   fund.  If  implemented   in  accordance  with   its  terms  (including
appropriation of  the necessary  funds), the  petition as  approved would  shift
several hundred million dollars to direct Local Aid.
 
    OTHER  TAX MEASURES.   To provide  revenue to  pay debt service  on both the
deficit and  Medicaid-related borrowings  and to  fund certain  direct  Medicaid
expenditures,  legislation  was enacted  imposing an  additional tax  on certain
types of personal income for 1989 and 1990 taxable years at rates of 0.375%  and
0.75%  respectively, effectively raising the tax rate  of 1989 from 5% to 5.375%
and for 1990 to 5.75%. Recent legislation has effectively further increased  tax
rates  to 5.95% for  tax year 1990 to  6.25% for tax year  1991 and returning to
5.95% for tax year 1992 and subsequent  tax years. The tax is applicable to  all
personal   income  except   income  derived   from  dividends,   capital  gains,
unemployment compensation,  alimony,  rent, interest,  pensions,  annuities  and
IRA/Keogh  distributions.  The  income  tax rate  on  other  interest (excluding
interest on obligations  of the United  States and of  the Commonwealth and  its
subdivisions),  dividends  and net  capital gains  (after  a 50%  reduction) was
increased from 10% to 12%  for tax year 1990  and subsequent years, by  recently
enacted legislation.
 
    ESTATE  TAX REVISIONS.   The fiscal  1993 budget  included legislation which
gradually phases out the current Massachusetts estate tax and replaces it with a
"sponge tax" in 1997.  The "sponge tax"  is based on the  maximum amount of  the
credit  for state taxes allowed for federal  estate tax purposes. The estate tax
is phased out  by means  of annual  increases in  the basic  exemption from  the
current  $200,000  level.  The  exemption is  increased  to  $300,000  for 1993,
$400,000 for 1994,  $500,000 for 1995  and $600,000 for  1996. In addition,  the
legislation  includes a full marital deduction  starting July 1, 1994. Currently
the marital deduction  is limited  to 50%  of the  Massachusetts adjusted  gross
estate.  The  static  fiscal impact  of  the phase  out  of the  estate  tax was
estimated to be approximately $24.8 million  in fiscal 1994 and is estimated  to
be approximately $72.5 million in fiscal 1995.
 
                                      D-6
<PAGE>
    OTHER  ISSUERS OF  MASSACHUSETTS OBLIGATIONS.   There are a  number of state
agencies, instrumentalities and political subdivisions of the Commonwealth  that
issue  Municipal Obligations, some  of which may  be conduit revenue obligations
payable from  payments from  private borrowers.  These entities  are subject  to
various  economic  risks  and  uncertainties,  and  the  credit  quality  of the
securities issued  by them  may vary  considerably from  the credit  quality  of
obligations  backed by the full faith and  credit of the Commonwealth. The brief
summary above does not address, nor does it attempt to address, any difficulties
and  the  financial   situations  of  those   other  issuers  of   Massachusetts
Obligations.
 
MASSACHUSETTS TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The  following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current returns
for individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current  returns
under  combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 1996 marginal Federal
tax rates and marginal state tax  rates currently available and scheduled to  be
in  effect.  The  tables  incorporate  increased  tax  rates  for  higher-income
taxpayers that were  included in  the Revenue  Reconciliation Act  of 1993.  The
combined  state and Federal tax  brackets shown reflect the  fact that state tax
payments are currently  deductible for Federal  tax purposes. The  Massachusetts
state tax rate shown is the rate at which interest is taxed. Certain other types
of  income are taxed at other rates. The  table does not reflect any local taxes
or any taxes other  than personal income taxes.  The tables illustrate what  you
would  have to  earn on  taxable investments  to equal  the tax-exempt estimated
current return for your  income tax bracket. A  taxpayer's marginal tax rate  is
affected  by both his taxable income and  his adjusted gross income. Locate your
adjusted gross and  your taxable  income (which  is your  adjusted gross  income
reduced by any deductions and exemptions), then locate your tax bracket based on
joint  or single  tax filing.  Read across  to the  equivalent taxable estimated
current return you would need to match the tax-free income.
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 40.1 $    0-117.95      25.0   %     6.00    6.33    6.67    7.00    7.33    7.67    8.00    8.33
    40.1- 96.9      0-117.95      36.5         7.09    7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84
               117.95-176.95      37.5         7.20    7.60    8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00
    96.9-147.7      0-117.95      39.5         7.44    7.85    8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33
               117.95-176.95      40.0         7.50    7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42
               176.95-299.45      42.5         7.83    8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87
  147.7-263.75 117.95-176.95      44.5         8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
               176.95-299.45      47.0         8.49    8.96    9.43    9.91   10.38   10.85   11.32   11.79
                 Over 299.45      44.5   2     8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
   Over 263.75 176.95-299.45      50.5         9.09    9.60   10.10   10.61   11.11   11.62   12.12   12.63
                 Over 299.45      48.0   3     8.65    9.13    9.62   10.10   10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $    0- 24.00 $    0-117.95      25.0   %     6.00    6.33    6.67    7.00    7.33    7.67    8.00    8.33
  24.00- 58.15      0-117.95      36.5         7.09    7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84
  58.15-121.30      0-117.95      39.5         7.44    7.85    8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33
               117.95-240.45      40.5         7.56    7.98    8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50
 121.30-263.75 117.95-240.45      45.5         8.26    8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47
                 Over 240.45      44.5   2     8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
   Over 263.75   Over 240.45      48.0   3     8.65    9.13    9.62   10.10   10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
      1 The table reflects the effect of the limitations on itemized  deductions
and  the  deduction for  personal exemptions.  They were  designed to  phase out
certain  benefits  of  these  deductions  for  higher  income  taxpayers.  These
limitations,  in effect, raise the current  maximum marginal Federal tax rate to
approximately 44.0 percent for taxpayers filing  a joint return and entitled  to
four  personal exemptions and to approximately 41.0 percent for taxpayers filing
a single return entitled to only  one personal exemption. These limitations  are
subject  to certain maximums,  which depend on the  number of exemptions claimed
and the total  amount of the  taxpayer's itemized deductions.  For example,  the
limitation  on itemized deductions will  not cause a taxpayer  to lose more than
80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
 
      2 Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0% after the 80% cap on the limitation on
itemized deductions has been met.
 
      3 Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6% after the 80% cap on the limitation on
itemized deductions has been met.
 
                                      D-7
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX E
                             NEW JERSEY DISCLOSURE
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--NEW JERSEY
 
    As  described above, the New Jersey Insured Trust consists of a portfolio of
New Jersey Bonds. The Trust is  therefore susceptible to political, economic  or
regulatory  factors affecting  issuers of  the New  Jersey Bonds.  The following
information provides  only  a brief  summary  of  some of  the  complex  factors
affecting  the financial  situation in New  Jersey (the "State")  and is derived
from sources that  are generally available  to investors and  is believed to  be
accurate.  It is based  in part on  information obtained from  various State and
local agencies in New Jersey. No  independent verification has been made of  any
of the following information.
 
    New  Jersey is the ninth largest state  in population and the fifth smallest
in land area. With an  average of 1,062 people per  square mile, it is the  most
densely  populated of all the states.  The State's economic base is diversified,
consisting of a variety of  manufacturing, construction and service  industries,
supplemented by rural areas with selective commercial agriculture. Historically,
New Jersey's average per capita income has been well above the national average,
and  in 1994  the State ranked  second among  the states in  per capita personal
income ($27,742).
 
    The New Jersey Economic  Policy Council, a statutory  arm of the New  Jersey
Department  of Commerce  and Economic  Development, has  reported in  NEW JERSEY
ECONOMIC INDICATORS,  a monthly  publication  of the  New Jersey  Department  of
Labor,  Division of Labor Market and Demographic Research, that in 1988 and 1989
employment in  New Jersey's  manufacturing  sector failed  to benefit  from  the
export  boom experienced by many Midwest states and the State's service sectors,
which had  fueled the  State's  prosperity since  1982,  lost momentum.  In  the
meantime,  the prolonged fast growth in the State in the mid 1980s resulted in a
tight labor market situation, which has led to relatively high wages and housing
prices. This  means  that,  while  the  incomes  of  New  Jersey  residents  are
relatively  high,  the State's  business sector  has  become more  vulnerable to
competitive pressures.
 
    The onset of  the national recession  (which officially began  in July  1990
according to the National Bureau of Economic Research) caused an acceleration of
New  Jersey's job  losses in  construction and  manufacturing. In  addition, the
national recession  caused an  employment downturn  in such  previously  growing
sectors  as wholesale trade,  retail trade, finance,  utilities and trucking and
warehousing. Reflecting the downturn, the rate of unemployment in the State rose
from a low of 3.6% during the first quarter of 1989 to an estimated 6.1% in  May
1996,  which is higher than  the national average of  5.6% in May 1996. Economic
recovery is  likely to  be slow  and  uneven in  New Jersey,  with  unemployment
receding  at a correspondingly slow pace, due  to the fact that some sectors may
lag due to continued excess capacity. In addition, employers even in  rebounding
sectors  can  be expected  to  remain cautious  about  hiring until  they become
convinced that improved  business will  be sustained. Also,  certain firms  will
continue to merge or downsize to increase profitability.
 
    DEBT  SERVICE. The primary method for State financing of capital projects is
through the sale of the general obligation  bonds of the State. These bonds  are
backed  by the full faith and credit of the State tax revenues and certain other
fees are pledged to  meet the principal and  interest payments and if  provided,
redemption premium payments, if any, required to repay the bonds. As of June 30,
1995,  there was  a total  authorized bond  indebtedness of  approximately $9.48
billion, of which  $3.65 billion was  issued and outstanding,  $4.0 billion  was
retired  (including bonds for which provision  for payment has been made through
the sale and issuance  of refunding bonds) and  $1.83 billion was unissued.  The
appropriation  for the debt service  obligation on such outstanding indebtedness
is $466.3 million for Fiscal Year 1996.
 
    NEW JERSEY'S BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION SYSTEM. The State operates on a fiscal
year beginning July 1 and ending June 30. At the end of Fiscal Year 1989,  there
was  a  surplus in  the  State's general  fund (the  fund  into which  all State
revenues not  otherwise  restricted by  statute  are deposited  and  from  which
appropriations  are made)  of $411.2  million. At the  end of  Fiscal Year 1990,
there was a surplus in the general fund of $1 million. At the end of Fiscal Year
1991, there was a surplus in the general fund of $1.4 million. New Jersey closed
its Fiscal Year 1992 with a surplus  of $760.8 million, Fiscal Year 1993 with  a
surplus  of  $937.4 million,  and  Fiscal Year  1994  with a  surplus  of $926.0
million. It is  estimated that New  Jersey closed  its Fiscal Year  1995 with  a
surplus of $569 million.
 
    In  order  to  provide additional  revenues  to balance  future  budgets, to
redistribute school aid and  to contain real property  taxes, on June 27,  1990,
and  July  12,  1990, Governor  Florio  signed  into law  legislation  which was
estimated to raise approximately $2.8 billion in additional taxes (consisting of
$1.5 billion in  sales and  use taxes  and $1.3  billion in  income taxes),  the
biggest  tax hike in New Jersey history. There can be no assurance that receipts
and collections of such taxes will meet such estimates.
 
    The first  part of  the tax  hike  took effect  on July  1, 1990,  with  the
increase in the State's sales and use tax rate from 6% to 7% and the elimination
of  exemptions for certain  products and services not  previously subject to the
 
                                      E-1
<PAGE>
tax, such as telephone calls, paper products (which has since been  reinstated),
soaps  and detergents, janitorial services,  alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.
At the  time  of  enactment, it  was  projected  that these  taxes  would  raise
approximately  $1.5 billion in additional  revenue. Projections and estimates of
receipts from sales  and use taxes,  however, have been  subject to variance  in
recent fiscal years.
 
    The  second part of the tax hike took effect on January 1, 1991, in the form
of an increased state income  tax on individuals. At  the time of enactment,  it
was  projected  that this  increase would  raise  approximately $1.3  billion in
additional income taxes to fund a new school aid formula, a new homestead rebate
program and state assumption of  welfare and social services costs.  Projections
and  estimates of receipts from income taxes, however, have also been subject to
variance in  recent  fiscal  years.  Under the  legislation,  income  tax  rates
increased  from their previous range of  2% to 3.5% to a  new range of 2% to 7%,
with the higher rates applying to married couples with incomes exceeding $70,000
who file joint returns, and to individuals filing single returns with incomes of
more than $35,000.
 
    The Florio administration  had contended  that the income  tax package  will
help  reduce  local  property  tax  increases by  providing  more  state  aid to
municipalities.  Under  the  income  tax  legislation  the  State  will   assume
approximately $289 million in social services costs that previously were paid by
counties and municipalities and funded by property taxes. In addition, under the
new formula for funding school aid, an extra $1.1 billion is proposed to be sent
by  the State to school districts beginning  in 1991, thus reducing the need for
property tax increases to support education programs.
 
    Effective July 1, 1992, the State's sales and use tax rate decreased from 7%
to 6%. Effective January 1, 1994, an across-the-board 5% reduction in the income
tax rates was enacted and effective January 1, 1995, further reductions  ranging
from  1% up to  10% in income  tax rates took  effect. Governor Whitman recently
signed into  law further  reductions  up to  15%  for some  taxpayers  effective
January 1, 1996, completing her campaign promise to reduce income taxes by up to
30% within three years for most taxpayers.
 
    On June 30, 1995, Governor Whitman signed the New Jersey Legislature's $16.0
billion  budget for Fiscal  Year 1996. The balanced  budget, which includes $541
million in surplus, is $300 million more than the 1995 budget. Whether the State
can achieve a  balanced budget  depends on its  ability to  enact and  implement
expenditure reductions and to collect estimated tax revenues.
 
    LITIGATION. The State is a party in numerous legal proceedings pertaining to
matters  incidental to the performance  of routine governmental operations. Such
litigation includes, but is  not limited to, claims  asserted against the  State
arising   from  alleged  torts,  alleged  breaches  of  contracts,  condemnation
proceedings and other alleged violations of State and Federal laws. Included  in
the  State's  outstanding litigation  are cases  challenging the  following: the
funding of teachers' pension funds,  the adequacy of Medicaid reimbursement  for
hospital  services, the hospital assessment authorized by the Health Care Reform
Act of  1992,  various  provisions,  and  the  constitutionality,  of  the  Fair
Automobile  Insurance Reform Act  of 1990, the  State's role in  a consent order
concerning the construction of  a resource facility  in Passaic County,  actions
taken  by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities against an individual, the State's
actions regarding  alleged chromium  contamination  of State-owned  property  in
Hudson  County, the issuance of emergency  redirection orders and a draft permit
by the Department of Environmental Protection  and Energy, refusal of the  State
to  share with  Camden County  federal funding  the State  recently received for
disproportionate share hospital payments made to county psychiatric  facilities,
and  the constitutionality of  annual A-901 hazardous  and solid waste licensure
renewal fees collected by the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy.
Adverse judgments in these and other matters could have the potential for either
a significant loss of revenue or a significant unanticipated expenditure by  the
State.
 
    At  any given time,  there are various  numbers of claims  and cases pending
against the State,  State agencies  and employees seeking  recovery of  monetary
damages  that are  primarily paid out  of the  fund created pursuant  to the New
Jersey Tort  Claims Act.  In addition,  at  any given  time, there  are  various
numbers of contract claims against the State and State agencies seeking recovery
of  monetary damages.  The State  is unable to  estimate its  exposure for these
claims.
 
    DEBT RATINGS. For many years prior to 1991, both Moody's Investors  Service,
Inc. and Standard and Poor's Corporation had rated New Jersey general obligation
bonds  "Aaa" and  "AAA," respectively.  On July  3, 1991,  however, Standard and
Poor's Corporation downgraded New Jersey  general obligation bonds to "AA+."  On
June  4,  1992,  Standard  and  Poor's  Corporation  placed  New  Jersey general
obligation bonds  on  CreditWatch  with negative  implications,  citing  as  its
principal reason for its caution the unexpected denial by the Federal Government
of  New Jersey's request  for $450 million in  retroactive Medicaid payments for
psychiatric hospitals. These funds were critical to closing a $1 billion gap  in
the  State's $15  billion budget for  fiscal year  1992 which ended  on June 30,
1992. Under New Jersey state law, the  gap in the current budget must be  closed
before  the  new  budget  year  began  on  July  1,  1992.  Standard  and Poor's
Corporation suggested the State  could close fiscal 1992's  budget gap and  help
 
                                      E-2
<PAGE>
fill  fiscal 1993's hole by a reversion of $700 million of pension contributions
to its general fund under a proposal to change the way the State calculates  its
pension  liability. On July 6, 1992,  Standard and Poor's Corporation reaffirmed
its "AA+" rating for  New Jersey general obligation  bonds and removed the  debt
from  its  CreditWatch  list, although  it  stated that  New  Jersey's long-term
financial outlook was  negative. Standard and  Poor's Corporation was  concerned
that the State was entering the 1993 fiscal year that began July 1, 1992, with a
slim  $26 million surplus and remained concerned about whether the sagging State
economy would recover quickly enough to meet lawmakers' revenue projections.  It
also  remained concerned  about the recent  federal ruling leaving  in doubt how
much the State was due in retroactive Medicaid reimbursements and a ruling by  a
federal  judge, now on  appeal, of the  State's method for  paying for uninsured
hospital patients. However, on July 27, 1994, S&P announced that it was changing
the State's outlook from negative to stable due to a brightening of the  State's
prospects  as a  result of  Governor Whitman's effort  to trim  spending and cut
taxes, coupled with an improving economy. S&P reaffirmed its "AA+" rating at the
same time.
 
    On August 24, 1992,  Moody's Investors Service,  Inc. downgraded New  Jersey
general  obligation  bonds  to "Aa1",  stating  that the  reduction  reflected a
developing pattern of  reliance on  nonrecurring measures  to achieve  budgetary
balance,  four years  of financial operations  marked by  revenue shortfalls and
operating deficits, and  the likelihood that  serious financial pressures  would
persist.  On August 5, 1994, Moody's reaffirmed  its "Aa1" rating, citing on the
positive side New Jersey's broad-based  economy, high income levels, history  of
maintaining  a  positive financial  position and  moderate (albeit  rising) debt
ratios, and, on the negative side, a continued reliance on one-time revenues and
a dependence on pension-related savings to achieve budgetary balance.
 
NEW JERSEY TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current  returns
for  individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current returns
under combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 1996 marginal  Federal
tax  rates and marginal state tax rates  currently available and scheduled to be
in  effect.  The  tables  incorporate  increased  tax  rates  for  higher-income
taxpayers  that were  included in  the Revenue  Reconciliation Act  of 1993. The
table assumes that federal  taxable income is equal  to state income subject  to
tax,  and for  cases in which  more than one  state rate falls  within a Federal
bracket, the highest state rate corresponding to the highest income within  that
Federal  bracket  is used.  The combined  state and  Federal tax  brackets shown
reflect the fact that  state tax payments are  currently deductible for  Federal
tax purposes. The table does not reflect any local taxes or any taxes other than
personal  income taxes.  The tables  illustrate what you  would have  to earn on
taxable investments to equal  the tax-exempt estimated  current return for  your
income  tax bracket.  A taxpayer's  marginal tax  rate is  affected by  both his
taxable income and  his adjusted gross  income. Locate your  adjusted gross  and
your  taxable  income  (which  is  your adjusted  gross  income  reduced  by any
deductions and  exemptions), then  locate your  tax bracket  based on  joint  or
single  tax  filing. Read  across to  the  equivalent taxable  estimated current
return you would need to match the tax-free income.
 
                                      E-3
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 40.1 $    0-117.95      16.5   %     5.39    5.69    5.99    6.29    6.59    6.89    7.19    7.49
    40.1- 96.9      0-117.95      32.0         6.62    6.99    7.35    7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19
               117.95-176.95      33.0         6.72    7.09    7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33
    96.9-147.7      0-117.95      35.0         6.92    7.31    7.69    8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62
               117.95-176.95      35.5         6.98    7.36    7.75    8.14    8.53    8.91    9.30    9.69
               176.95-299.45      38.0         7.26    7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08
  147.7-263.75 117.95-176.95      41.0         7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
               176.95-299.45      44.0         8.04    8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16
                 Over 299.45      41.0   2     7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
   Over 263.75 176.95-299.45      47.5         8.57    9.05    9.52   10.00   10.48   10.95   11.43   11.90
                 Over 299.45      44.5   3     8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $    0- 24.00 $    0-117.95      16.0   %     5.36    5.65    5.95    6.25    6.55    6.85    7.14    7.44
  24.00- 58.15      0-117.95      32.0         6.62    6.99    7.35    7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19
  58.15-121.30      0-117.95      35.5         6.98    7.36    7.75    8.14    8.53    8.91    9.30    9.69
               117.95-240.45      37.0         7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92
 121.30-263.75 117.95-240.45      42.0         7.76    8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78
                 Over 240.45      41.0   2     7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
   Over 263.75   Over 240.45      44.5   3     8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
      1 The table reflects the effect of the limitations on itemized  deductions
and  the  deduction for  personal exemptions.  They were  designed to  phase out
certain  benefits  of  these  deductions  for  higher  income  taxpayers.  These
limitations,  in effect, raise the current maximum marginal combined tax rate to
approximately 47.59 percent for taxpayers filing a joint return and entitled  to
four personal exemptions and to approximately 44.56 percent for taxpayers filing
a  single return entitled to only  one personal exemption. These limitations are
subject to certain maximums,  which depend on the  number of exemptions  claimed
and  the total  amount of the  taxpayer's itemized deductions.  For example, the
limitation on itemized deductions  will not cause a  taxpayer to lose more  than
80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
 
      2  Combined tax rate reverts to 40.08% after the 80% cap on the limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
      3 Combined tax rate reverts to 43.45% after the 80% cap on the  limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
                                      E-4
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX F
                                OHIO DISCLOSURE
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--OHIO
 
    As  described above, the  Ohio Trust will  invest most of  its net assets in
securities issued by  or on behalf  of (or in  certificates of participation  in
lease  purchase obligations of) the State of Ohio, political subdivisions of the
State,  or  agencies  or  instrumentalities  of  the  State  or  its   political
subdivisions  (Ohio  Obligations). The  Ohio Trust  is therefore  susceptible to
general or particular economic, political, or regulatory factors that may affect
issuers of Ohio Obligations. The following information constitutes only a  brief
summary  of  some of  the  many complex  factors that  may  have an  effect. The
information does not apply to "conduit"  obligations on which the public  issuer
itself  has  no  financial  responsibility.  This  information  is  derived from
official statements of certain Ohio  issuers published in connection with  their
issuance  of securities  and from other  publicly available  information, and is
believed to be accurate. No independent verification has been made of any of the
following information.
 
    Generally, the  creditworthiness of  Ohio Obligations  of local  issuers  is
unrelated  to that  of obligations  of the  State itself,  and the  State has no
responsibility to make payments on those local obligations.
 
    There may be specific factors that  at particular times apply in  connection
with  investment  in  particular Ohio  Obligations  or in  those  obligations of
particular Ohio issuers. It is possible that the investment may be in particular
Ohio Obligations, or in those of  particular issuers, as to which those  factors
apply. However, the information below is intended only as a general summary, and
is  not intended  as a discussion  of any  specific factors that  may affect any
particular obligation or issuer.
 
    The timely payment of principal of and interest on Ohio Obligations has been
guaranteed by bond insurance purchased by  the issuers, the Ohio Trust or  other
parties. Those Ohio Obligations may not be subject to the factors referred to in
this section of the Prospectus.
 
    Ohio is the seventh most populous state. The 1990 Census count of 10,847,000
indicated  a 0.5% population increase from 1980. The Census estimate for 1994 is
11,102,000.
 
    While diversifying more into the service and other non-manufacturing  areas,
the  Ohio  economy continues  to  rely in  part  on durable  goods manufacturing
largely concentrated in motor vehicles and equipment, steel, rubber products and
household appliances. As a result, general  economic activity, as in many  other
industrially-developed  states, tends  to be  more cyclical  than in  some other
states and in the nation as a whole. Agriculture is an important segment of  the
economy,  with over half  the State's area devoted  to farming and approximately
16% of total employment in agribusiness.
 
    In prior years, the State's overall unemployment rate was commonly  somewhat
higher  than the national figure. For example, the reported 1990 average monthly
State rate was 5.7%, compared to the 5.5% national figure. However, for the last
five years the State rates  were below the national  rates (4.8% versus 5.6%  in
1995).  The unemployment rate and its effects vary among geographic areas of the
State.
 
    There can  be no  assurance  that future  national, regional  or  state-wide
economic  difficulties, and  the resulting impact  on State  or local government
finances  generally,  will  not  adversely  affect  the  market  value  of  Ohio
Obligations held in the Ohio Trust or the ability of particular obligors to make
timely  payments  of  debt service  on  (or  lease payments  relating  to) those
obligations.
 
    The State operates on the basis of a fiscal biennium for its  appropriations
and  expenditures, and  is precluded by  law from ending  its July 1  to June 30
fiscal year (FY) or fiscal biennium in a deficit position. Most State operations
are financed through  the General  Revenue Fund  (GRF), for  which the  personal
income  and sales-use taxes are  the major sources. Growth  and depletion of GRF
ending fund  balances show  a consistent  pattern related  to national  economic
conditions,  with  the  ending  FY balance  reduced  during  less  favorable and
increased during more favorable economic periods. The State has well-established
procedures  for,   and   has  timely   taken,   necessary  actions   to   ensure
resource/expenditure  balances  during  less favorable  economic  periods. Those
procedures included general and selected reductions in appropriations spending.
 
    Key biennium-ending fund balances  at June 30, 1989  were $475.1 million  in
the  GRF and  $353 million  in the  Budget Stabilization  Fund (BSF,  a cash and
budgetary management  fund). June  30,  1991 ending  fund balances  were  $135.3
million (GRF) and $300 million (BSF).
 
    The  next  biennium,  1992-93,  presented  significant  challenges  to State
finances, successfully  addressed.  To  allow time  to  resolve  certain  budget
differences,  an interim appropriations act was  enacted effective July 1, 1991;
it included GRF  debt service  and lease  rental appropriations  for the  entire
biennium, while continuing most other
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
appropriations  for a month. Pursuant to  the general appropriations act for the
entire biennium, passed on July 11,  1991, $200 million was transfered from  the
BSF to the GRF in FY 1992.
 
    Based  on updated results  and forecasts in  the course of  that FY, both in
light of  a  continuing  uncertain  nationwide  economic  situation,  there  was
projected,  and then timely addressed, an FY 1992 imbalance in GRF resources and
expenditures. In response, the  Governor ordered most  State agencies to  reduce
GRF  spending in the last six months of FY 1992 by a total of approximately $184
million; the  $100.4 million  BSF balance  and additional  amounts from  certain
other  funds were transferred  late in the  FY to the  GRF; and adjustments were
made in the timing of certain tax payments.
 
    A significant GRF shortfall (approximately $520 million) was then  projected
for  FY 1993.  It was  addressed by  appropriate legislative  and administrative
actions, including the Governor's ordering $300 million in selected GRF spending
reductions and subsequent executive and legislative action (a combination of tax
revisions and additional spending reductions). The June 30, 1993 ending GRF fund
balance was  approximately  $111 million,  of  which, as  a  first step  to  BSF
replenishment, $21 million was deposited in the BSF.
 
    None  of the spending  reductions were applied  to appropriations needed for
debt service or lease rentals relating to any State obligations.
 
    The 1994-95 biennium presented a  more affirmative financial picture.  Based
on  June 30, 1994 balances, an additional $260 million was deposited in the BSF.
The biennium ended June 30, 1995 with a GRF ending fund balance of $928 million,
of which $535.2 million has been transferred  into the BSF (which had a  January
4, 1996 balance of over $828 million).
 
    The  GRF appropriations act for the 1995-96  biennium was passed on June 28,
1995 and promptly signed (after selective vetoes) by the Governor. All necessary
GRF appropriations  for  State  debt  service and  lease  rental  payments  then
projected  for the biennium  were included in  that act. In  accordance with the
appropriations act,  the  significant June  30,  1995 GRF  fund  balance,  after
leaving  in the GRF  an unreserved and  undesignated balance of  $70 million has
been transferred to the  BSF and other funds  including school assistance  funds
and,  in  anticipation of  possible federal  program  changes, a  human services
stabilization fund.
 
    The State's incurrence or  assumption of debt without  a vote of the  people
is,   with  limited  exceptions,  prohibited  by  current  State  constitutional
provisions. The State may  incur debt, limited in  amount to $750,000, to  cover
casual  deficits  or failures  in  revenues or  to  meet expenses  not otherwise
provided for. The Constitution expressly  precludes the State from assuming  the
debts  of any  local government  or corporation. (An  exception is  made in both
cases for any debt incurred to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, or  defend
the State in war.)
 
    By  14 constitutional amendments, the last adopted in 1995, Ohio voters have
authorized the incurrence of State  debt and the pledge  of taxes or excises  to
its  payment. At  April 3, 1996,  $892 million (excluding  certain highway bonds
payable primarily from highway  use charges) of this  debt was outstanding.  The
only  such State debt at that date still authorized to be incurred were portions
of the highway bonds, and the following:  (a) up to $100 million of  obligations
for  coal research  and development  may be outstanding  at any  one time ($39.6
million outstanding); (b) $240 million of obligations previously authorized  for
local  infrastructure improvements,  no more than  $120 million of  which may be
issued in any  calendar year ($805.4  million outstanding); and  (c) up to  $200
million  in general obligation bonds for  parks, recreation and natural resource
purposes which may be  outstanding at any one  time ($47.2 million  outstanding,
with no more than $50 million to be issued in any one year).
 
    The  electors  approved in  November  1995 a  constitutional  amendment that
extends the local  infrastructure bond program  (authorizing an additional  $1.2
billion  of State full faith  and credit ogligations to  be issued over 10 years
for the  purpose),  and authorizes  additional  highway bonds  (expected  to  be
payable  primarily from highway  use receipts). The  latter supersedes the prior
$500 million highway obligation authorization, and authorizes not more than $1.2
billion to be  outstanding at  any time  and not more  than $220  million to  be
issued in a fiscal year.
 
    Common  resolutions are pending in both  houses of the General Assembly that
would submit a  constitutional amendment  relating to certain  other aspects  of
State  debt. The proposal  would authorize, among other  things, the issuance of
State general obligation debt  for a variety of  purposes, with debt service  on
all State general obligation debt and GRF-supported obligations not to exceed 5%
of the preceding fiscal year's GRF expenditures.
 
    The  Constitution  also authorizes  the  issuance of  State  obligations for
certain purposes, the owners of which do  not have the right to have excises  or
taxes  levied to pay debt service. Those special obligations include obligations
issued by the Ohio Public Facilities Commission and the Ohio Building Authority,
and certain obligations issued by the State Treasurer, $4.8 billion of which was
outstanding or awaiting delivery at April 3, 1996.
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
    A 1990  constitutional  amendment  authorizes greater  State  and  political
subdivision participation (including financing) in the provision of housing. The
General   Assembly  may  for  that  purpose  authorize  the  issuance  of  State
obligations secured by a pledge of all or such portion as it authorizes of State
revenues or receipts (but not by a pledge of the State's full faith and credit).
 
    A 1994 constitutional amendment pledges the full faith and credit and taxing
power of  the State  to meeting  certain guarantees  under the  State's  tuition
credit  program which provides for purchase  of tuition credits, for the benefit
of State residents, guaranteed to cover  a specified amount when applied to  the
cost  of  higher  education  tuition.  (A  1965  constitutional  provision  that
authorized student loan guarantees payable from available State moneys has never
been implemented, apart from a "guarantee fund" approach funded essentially from
program revenues.)
 
    The House  has adopted  a resolution  that would  submit to  the electors  a
constitutional  amendment prohibiting the  General Assembly from  imposing a new
tax or increasing an existing tax unless aproved by a three-fifths vote of  each
house  or by  a majority vote  of the  electors. It cannot  be predicted whether
required Senate concurrence to submission will be received.
 
    State and local agencies  issue obligations that  are payable from  revenues
from  or  relating  to certain  facilities  (but  not from  taxes).  By judicial
interpretation,  these  obligations   are  not   "debt"  within   constitutional
provisions.  In general, payment obligations  under lease-purchase agreements of
Ohio public agencies (in which certificates of participation may be issued)  are
limited  in duration to the agency's fiscal  period, and are renewable only upon
appropriations being made available for the subsequent fiscal period.
 
    Local school districts in Ohio receive a major portion (state-wide aggregate
approximately 44%  in  recent  years)  of  their  operating  moneys  from  State
subsidies,  but are dependent on local property taxes, and in 120 districts from
voter-authorized income  taxes,  for  significant  portions  of  their  budgets.
Litigation,  similar  to  that  in  other  states,  is  pending  questioning the
constitutionality of Ohio's system of school funding. The trial court  concluded
that   aspects  of  the  system   (including  basic  operating  assistance)  are
unconstitutional, and  ordered  the State  to  provide  for and  fund  a  system
complying  with the Ohio Constitution. The State appealed and a court of appeals
reversed the trial  court's findings for  plaintiff districts. The  case is  now
pending  on appeal in the Ohio Supreme Court.  A small number of the State's 612
local school districts  have in any  year required special  assistance to  avoid
year-end  deficits. A  current program  provides for  school district  cash need
borrowing directly  from commercial  lenders, with  diversion of  State  subsidy
distributions  to  repayment if  needed.  Recent borrowings  under  this program
totalled $94.5 million for  27 districts (including $75  million for one) in  FY
1993,  $41.1  million for  28 districts  in FY  1994, and  $71.1 million  for 29
districts in FY 1995.
 
    Ohio's 943 incorporated cities and  villages rely primarily on property  and
municipal  income taxes for their operations. With other subdivisions, they also
receive local government support and  property tax relief moneys distributed  by
the  State. For those few municipalities that on occasion have faced significant
financial problems,  there  are statutory  procedures  for a  joint  State/local
commission to monitor the municipality's fiscal affairs and for development of a
financial  plan to eliminate deficits and  cure any defaults. Since inception in
1979, these procedures have been  applied to 23 cities  and villages; for 19  of
them the fiscal situation was resolved and the procedures terminated.
 
    At  present  the State  itself does  not levy  ad valorem  taxes on  real or
tangible personal property. Those taxes are levied by political subdivisions and
other local taxing districts. The Constitution  has since 1934 limited to 1%  of
true  value in  money the amount  of that  aggregate levy (including  a levy for
unvoted general obligations) of property taxes by all overlapping  subdivisions,
without  a vote of the  electors or a municipal  charter provision, and statutes
limit the amount of the aggregate levy to 10 mills per $1 of assessed  valuation
(commonly  referred to as the  "ten-mill limitation"). Voted general obligations
of subdivisions are payable from property taxes that are unlimited as to  amount
or rate.
 
OHIO TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The  following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current returns
for individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current  returns
under  combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 1996 marginal Federal
tax rates and marginal state tax  rates currently available and scheduled to  be
in  effect.  The  tables  incorporate  increased  tax  rates  for  higher-income
taxpayers that were  included in  the Revenue  Reconciliation Act  of 1993.  The
table  assumes that federal taxable  income is equal to  state income subject to
tax, and for  cases in which  more than one  state rate falls  within a  Federal
bracket,  the highest state rate corresponding to the highest income within that
Federal bracket  is used.  The combined  state and  Federal tax  brackets  shown
reflect  the fact that  state tax payments are  currently deductible for Federal
tax purposes. The table does not reflect any local taxes or any taxes other than
personal income taxes.  The tables  illustrate what you  would have  to earn  on
taxable
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
investments to equal the tax-exempt estimated current return for your income tax
bracket.  A taxpayer's marginal tax rate is  affected by both his taxable income
and his  adjusted gross  income. Locate  your adjusted  gross and  your  taxable
income  (which  is your  adjusted  gross income  reduced  by any  deductions and
exemptions), then locate your tax bracket  based on joint or single tax  filing.
Read across to the equivalent taxable estimated current return you would need to
match the tax-free income.
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 40.1 $    0-117.95      19.5   %     5.59    5.90    6.21    6.52    6.83    7.14    7.45    7.76
    40.1- 96.9      0-117.95      32.5         6.67    7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26
               117.95-176.95      33.0         6.72    7.09    7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33
    96.9-147.7      0-117.95      36.0         7.03    7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77
               117.95-176.95      36.5         7.09    7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84
               176.95-299.45      39.0         7.38    7.79    8.20    8.61    9.02    9.43    9.84   10.25
  147.7-263.75 117.95-176.95      42.0         7.76    8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78
               176.95-299.45      44.5         8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
                 Over 299.45      42.0   2     7.76    8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78
   Over 263.75 176.95-299.45      48.0         8.65    9.13    9.62   10.10   10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02
                 Over 299.45      45.0   3     8.18    8.64    9.09    9.55   10.00   10.45   10.91   11.36
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                    TAX-FREE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $    0- 24.00 $    0-117.95      19.0   %     5.56    5.86    6.17    6.48    6.79    7.10    7.41    7.72
  24.00- 58.15      0-117.95      31.5         6.57    6.93    7.30    7.66    8.03    8.39    8.76    9.12
  58.15-121.30      0-117.95      36.0         7.03    7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77
               117.95-240.45      37.0         7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92
 121.30-263.75 117.95-240.45      42.5         7.83    8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87
                 Over 240.45      42.0   2     7.76    8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78
   Over 263.75   Over 240.45      45.0   3     8.18    8.64    9.09    9.55   10.00   10.45   10.91   11.36
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
      1  The table reflects the effect of the limitations on itemized deductions
and the  deduction for  personal exemptions.  They were  designed to  phase  out
certain  benefits  of  these  deductions  for  higher  income  taxpayers.  These
limitations, in effect, raise the current maximum marginal combined tax rate  to
approximately  48.22 percent for taxpayers filing a joint return and entitled to
four personal exemptions and to approximately 45.23 percent for taxpayers filing
a single return entitled to only  one personal exemption. These limitations  are
subject  to certain maximums,  which depend on the  number of exemptions claimed
and the total  amount of the  taxpayer's itemized deductions.  For example,  the
limitation  on itemized deductions will  not cause a taxpayer  to lose more than
80% of his  allowable itemized  deductions, with certain  exceptions. The  table
does  not reflect the Ohio joint filing credit, which has the effect of reducing
the state tax rates  by 5% to  20% of such rates  for certain married  taxpayers
filing a joint return. The amount of this credit cannot exceed $650.00.
 
      2  Marginal combined tax  rate reverts to  40.8% after the  80% cap on the
limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
 
      3 Marginal combined tax rate  reverts to 44.13% after  the 80% cap on  the
limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ELECTRONIC FILING AND PRINTED DOCUMENT.
 
    Pursuant  to Rule 499(c) (7) under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 20-11
under the Investment  Company Act  of 1940, Registrant  hereby identifies  those
differences  in the foregoing document between the electronic format in which it
is filed and the printed form in which it will be circulated:
 
    (1)  The printed and distributed prospectus may be paged differently because
the printed document may contain a different amount of information on each  page
from that contained in the electronic transmission.
 
    (2)   In the  printed document, footnote  symbols may include  a "dagger" or
multiple "dagger". The  "dagger" symbol is  represented as #  in the  electronic
document.
 
    (3)  The printed and distributed prospectus will not contain the preliminary
prospectus legend included at the beginning of the first prospectus page.
<PAGE>
                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
A.  BONDING ARRANGEMENTS OF DEPOSITOR:
 
    The  Depositor has obtained the following Stockbrokers Blanket Bonds for its
officers, directors and employees:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                       <C>
    INSURER/POLICY NO.                                                       AMOUNT
    United Pacific Insurance Co.                                          $ 10,000,000
    Reliance Insurance Company
    B 74 92 20
    Aetna Casualty and Surety                                             $ 10,000,000
    08 F10618BCA
    St. Paul Insurance Co.                                                $  6,000,000
    400 HC 1051
</TABLE>
 
B.  THIS AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING PAPERS AND
DOCUMENTS:
 
                                The facing sheet
 
                           The cross-reference sheet
 
                                 The Prospectus
 
                                 The signatures
 
                         Consents of Independent Public
                      Accountants and Counsel as indicated
 
                         Exhibits as listed on page S-5
 
C.  EXPLANATORY NOTE:
 
    This Amendment  No.  1  to  the  Registration  Statement  contains  multiple
separate  prospectuses.  Each  prospectus  will  relate  to  an  individual unit
investment trust and  will consist  of a  Part A, a  Part B  and an  Information
Supplement.  Each  prospectus  will  be  identical  will  the  exception  of the
respective Part A which will contain the financial information specific to  such
underlying unit investment trust.
 
D.  UNDERTAKINGS:
 
    1.   With the  exception of the  information included in  the state specific
appendices to the  Information Supplement,  which will vary  depending upon  the
make-up  of a  Fund or  updated to  reflect current  events, any  amendment to a
Fund's Information Supplement will be subject to the review of the staff of  the
Securities and Exchange Commission prior to distribution; and
 
    2.   The Information  Supplement to the  Trust will not  include third party
financial information.
 
                                      S-1
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
    The Registrant, Nuveen  Tax-Free Unit  Trust, Series  875 hereby  identifies
Series  401, 507, 512, 515, 517, 519, 723,  814 and 823 of the Nuveen Tax-Exempt
Unit Trust (the former name of the  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust) for purposes  of
the representations required by Rule 487 and represents the following:
    
 
    (1)    that the  portfolio  securities deposited  in  the series  as  to the
securities of which  this Registration Statement  is being filed  do not  differ
materially in type or quality from those deposited in such previous series;
 
    (2)  that, except to the extent necessary to identify the specific portfolio
securities deposited in, and to provide essential financial information for, the
series  with respect to  the securities of which  this Registration Statement is
being filed,  this  Registration Statement  does  not contain  disclosures  that
differ  in  any  material  respect  from  those  contained  in  the registration
statements for  such  previous  series  as  to  which  the  effective  date  was
determined by the Commission or the staff; and
 
    (3)  that it has complied with Rule 460 under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
   
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant,
Nuveen Tax-Free  Unit  Trust, Series  875  has  duly caused  this  Amendment  of
Registration  Statement to be signed on  its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois on July 11, 1996.
    
 
   
                                          NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST, SERIES 875
                                                             (Registrant)
    
 
                                          By JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                                                             (Depositor)
 
                                          By:  Anna R. Kucinskis
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                             Vice President
 
                                          Attest:  Morrison C. Warren
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                             Assistant Secretary
 
                                      S-2
<PAGE>
    Pursuant to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, this  Amendment
of  Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE                        TITLE*                 DATE
<S>                            <C>                              <C>        <C>
Timothy T. Schwertfeger        Chairman, Board of Directors         )
                               Chief Executive Officer and          )
                               Director                             )
                                                                    )
Anthony T. Dean                President, Chief Operating           )
                               Officer and Director                 )           Larry Woods Martin
                                                                    )           Attorney-In-Fact**
                                                                    )
John P. Amboian                Chief Financial Officer and          )              July 11, 1996
                               Executive Vice President             )
                                                                    )
                                                                    )
O. Walter Renfftlen            Vice President and Controller        )
                               (Principal Accounting Officer)       )
                                                                    )
                                                                    )
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------
 
* The  titles  of the  persons  named herein  represent  their capacity  in  and
relationship to John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Depositor.
 
**  The powers of attorney were filed on Form SE for Messrs. Renfftlen, Dean and
Schwertfeger with the  Amendment to the  Registration Statement on  Form S-6  of
Nuveen  Tax-Free  Unit  Trust, Series  671  (File  No. 33-49175).  The  Power of
Attorney for Messr.  Amboian was filed  with the Amendment  to the  Registration
statement  on  Form S-6  of Nuveen  Tax-Free  Unit Trust,  Series 823  (File No.
33-62325).
 
                                      S-3
<PAGE>
   
875
    
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
    The consent of Arthur Andersen LLP to the use of its name in the  Prospectus
included in the Registration Statement is filed by this amendment as Exhibit 4.4
to the Registratin Statement.
 
                         CONSENT OF CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
 
    The  consent of Chapman and Cutler to the  use of its name in the Prospectus
included in the  Registration Statement is  contained in its  opinions filed  by
this amendment as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to the Registration Statement.
 
                            CONSENT OF STATE COUNSEL
 
    The consents of special counsel to the Fund for state tax matters to the use
of  their names  in the  Prospectus included  in the  Registration Statement are
contained in  their opinions  filed by  this  amendment as  Exhibit 3.3  to  the
Registration Statement.
 
                         CONSENT OF STANDARD & POOR'S,
                    A DIVISION OF THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES
 
    The  consent of Standard & Poor's,  a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies,
to the use of its name in the Prospectus included in the Registration  Statement
is filed by this amendment as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement.
 
                    CONSENT OF KENNY S&P EVALUATION SERVICES
 
    The  consent of Kenny S&P Evaluation Services to  the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement is filed by this amendment  as
Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement.
 
                      CONSENT OF CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
 
    The  consent of  Carter, Ledyard  & Milburn to  the use  of its  name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement is filed by this amendment  as
Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement.
 
                                      S-4
<PAGE>
                                LIST OF EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<S>         <C>
1.1(a)      Copy  of Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated,
            Depositor, and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), Trustee (as Exibit  1.1
            (a)  to the Sponsor's Registration Statement on Form  S-6 relating to Series 823 of the
            Fund (file No. 33-62325) and incorporated herein by reference).
1.1(b)      Trust Indenture and Agreement.
2.1         Copy of  Certificate  of  Ownership (Included  in  Exhibit  1.1(a) on  pages  2  to  8,
            inclusive, and incorporated herein by reference).
3.1         Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being registered.
3.2         Opinion of counsel as to Federal income tax status of securities being registered.
3.3         Opinions  of special state counsel to  the Fund for state tax  matters as to income tax
            status to residents of the respective states of the units of the respective trusts  and
            consents to the use of their names in the Prospectus.
4.1         Consent of Standard & Poor's, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
4.2         Consent of Kenny S&P Evaluation Services.
4.3         Consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn.
4.4         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
6.1         List of Directors and Officers of Depositor and other related information (incorporated
            by  reference to Form S-6 [File  No. 33-62325] filed on September  7, 1995 on behalf of
            Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 823).
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-5

<PAGE>
   
EXHIBIT 1.1(B)
NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST SERIES 875
TRUST INDENTURE AND AGREEMENT
DATED JULY 11, 1996
    
 
    This  Trust  Indenture  and  Agreement  by and  between  John  Nuveen  & Co.
Incorporated, as Depositor and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National  Association),
as  Trustee,  sets  forth  certain provisions  in  full  and  incorporates other
provisions by reference to the document entitled 'Standard Terms and  Conditions
of  Trust  for Nuveen  Tax-Free  Unit Trust  Series  823 and  subsequent Series,
effective September 7, 1995' (herein  called the 'Standard Terms and  Conditions
of  Trust'), and such provisions as are set forth in full and such provisions as
are incorporated by  reference constitute  a single  instrument. All  references
herein  to Articles and  Sections are to  Articles and Sections  of the Standard
Terms and Conditions of Trust.
 
    Witnesseth That:
 
    In consideration  of  the  promises  and of  the  mutual  agreements  herein
contained, the Depositor and the Trustee, agree as follows:
 
PART I
 
    Standard  Terms and Conditions of Trust Subject to the Provisions of Part II
hereof, all the  provisions contained in  the Standard Terms  and Conditions  of
Trust are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed
to  be a part of this instrument as fully  and to the same extent as though said
provisions had been set forth in full in this instrument.
 
PART II
 
    Special Terms  and  Conditions of  Trust  The following  special  terms  and
conditions are hereby agreed to:
 
    (a)   The Bonds defined in Section  1.01(1) listed in Schedule A hereto have
been deposited in trust under this Trust Indenture and Agreement.
 
    (b)  The fractional  undivided interest in and  ownership of the Trust  Fund
represented  by each  Unit for  a Trust on  the Initial  Date of  Deposit is the
amount set  forth  under  the  captions  "Essential  Information  --  Fractional
Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit" in the Prospectus.
 
    (c)   The number of Units  created of each Trust are  as set forth under the
caption "Essential Information --  Number of Units" in  the Prospectus for  each
Trust.
 
    (d)   Notwithstanding  anything to  the contrary  in the  Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust, the phrase "Nuveen  Tax-Exempt Unit Trust" shall be  hereby
replaced with the phrase "Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust."
<PAGE>
   
    In  Witness Whereof, John  Nuveen & Co. Incorporated,  has caused this Trust
Indenture and Agreement for Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust Series 875 to be executed
by its  President, one  of its  Vice Presidents  or one  of its  Assistant  Vice
Presidents  and its  corporate seal  to be  hereto affixed  and attested  by its
Secretary or  its Assistant  Secretary and  The Chase  Manhattan Bank  (National
Association) has caused this Trust Indenture and Agreement to be executed by one
of  its Vice Presidents or  Second Vice Presidents and  its corporate seal to be
hereto affixed and attested to by one of its Assistant Treasurers; all as of the
day, month and year first above written.
    
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated,
Depositor
By Larry Woods Martin
Authorized Officer
(Seal)
Attest:
By Morrison C. Warren
                   Assistant Secretary
 
The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), Trustee
By Timothy Kelley
Second Vice President
(Seal)
Attest:
By Joseph Lyons
                   Assistant Treasurer
 
   
Schedule A to the Trust Indenture and Agreement Securities Initially Deposited
in Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust Series 875
    
 
(Note:  Incorporated herein and made a part hereof is the "Schedule of
Investments" as set forth for each Trust in the Prospectus.)

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3.1
 
(ON CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LETTERHEAD)
 
   
July 11, 1996
    
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
 
   
RE:  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875
    
 
Gentlemen:
 
   
    We  have served  as counsel  for you, as  depositor of  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit
Trust, Series 875 (hereinafter  referred to as the  "Fund"), in connection  with
the  issuance  under the  Trust Indenture  and Agreement  dated the  date hereof
between John Nuveen &  Co. Incorporated, as Depositor,  and The Chase  Manhattan
Bank  (National  Association),  as  Trustee, of  Units  of  fractional undivided
interest in the one or more Trusts of said Fund (hereinafter referred to as  the
"Units").
    
 
    In  connection  therewith,  we  have  examined  such  pertinent  records and
documents and matters of law as we  have deemed necessary in order to enable  us
to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.
 
    Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
 
    1.   The execution and delivery of the Trust Indenture and Agreement and the
establishment of  book  entry  positions  and  the  execution  and  issuance  of
certificates  evidencing the  Units in  the Trusts  of the  Fund have  been duly
authorized; and
 
    2.  The book entry positions and certificates positions evidencing the Units
in the Trusts of the Fund when  duly executed and delivered or duly  established
by  the Depositor  and the Trustee  in accordance with  the aforementioned Trust
Indenture and Agreement, will constitute  valid and binding obligations of  such
Trusts and the Depositor in accordance with the terms thereof.
 
   
    We  hereby  consent to  the  filing of  this opinion  as  an exhibit  to the
Registration Statement (File No.  333-05993) relating to  the Units referred  to
above  and to  the use  of our  name and to  the reference  to our  firm in said
Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.
    
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.4
 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
    As  independent  public accountants,  we hereby  consent to  the use  of our
report and to  all references to  our Firm included  in or made  a part of  this
Registration Statement.
 
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
 
   
July 11, 1996
    

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.2
 
(On J. J. Kenny Co., Inc. Letterhead)
 
   
July 11, 1996
    
 
John Nuveen & Company
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
 
   
Re:  Nuveen Tax Free Unit Trust, Series 875
    
 
Gentlemen:
 
   
    We  have  examined the  registration statement  File  No. 333-05993  for the
above-captioned trust. We hereby acknowledge that Kenny S&P Evaluation Services,
a division of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc. is currently acting as the evaluator for the
trust. We  hereby  consent to  the  use in  the  Registration Statement  of  the
reference  to Kenny S&P Evaluation Services, a division of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc.
as evaluator.
    
 
    In  addition,  we  hereby  confirm   that  the  ratings  indicated  in   the
Registration  Statement for the respective  bonds comprising the trust portfolio
are the ratings currently indicated in our KENNYBASE database.
 
    You are hereby authorized to file a copy of this letter with the  Securities
and Exchange Commission.
 
Sincerely,
 
Frank A. Ciccotto

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.1
 
(ON STANDARD & POOR'S, A DIVISION OF THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES LETTERHEAD)
 
   
July 11, 1996
    
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
 
   
RE:--Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875
    
 
Gentlemen:
 
   
    This  is in  response to  your requests  regarding the  above-captioned fund
which consists of separate underlying unit investment trusts (the "trusts"), SEC
file # 333-05993.
    
 
    We have reviewed the information presented  to us and have assigned a  "AAA"
rating  to the units of each insured trust  and a "AAA" rating to the securities
contained in  each insured  trust. The  ratings are  direct reflections  of  the
portfolio  of each  insured trust, which  will be composed  solely of securities
covered by bond insurance policies that insure against default in the payment of
principal and interest on the securities contained in each insured trust for  as
long  as they remain outstanding. We understand  that the bonds described in the
prospectus are the same as those in the attached list. Since such policies  have
been issued by MBIA which has been assigned a 'AAA' claims paying ability rating
by S&P, S&P has assigned a "AAA" rating to the units of each insured trust and a
"AAA" rating to the securities contained in each insured trust.
 
    Standard  & Poor's will maintain surveillance  on the "AAA" rating until May
22, 1997. On this date the rating will be automatically withdrawn by Standard  &
Poor's unless a post effective letter is requested by the trust.
 
    You  have permission to use the name of Standard & Poor's, a Division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies  and the  above-assigned rating  in connection  with  your
dissemination  of information relating to the insured trusts provided that it is
understood that the ratings are not "market" ratings nor recommendations to buy,
hold or sell the units of the insured trusts or the securities contained in  the
insured trusts. Further, it should be understood the rating on the units of each
insured  trust  does not  take  into account  the  extent to  which  the trust's
expenses or portfolio asset sales for less than the trust's purchase price  will
reduce  payment to the unit holders of the interest and principal required to be
paid on the portfolio assets. S&P reserves the right to advise its own  clients,
subscribers,  and the public of  the ratings. S&P relies  on the sponsor and its
counsel, accountants, and other experts for the accuracy and completeness of the
information submitted in connection with the ratings. S&P does not independently
verify the truth or accuracy of any such information.
 
    This letter evidences  our consent  to the  use of  the name  of Standard  &
Poor's,  a Division of  The McGraw-Hill Companies in  connection with the rating
assigned to the  units of each  insured trust in  the registration statement  or
prospectus relating to the units and the trusts. However, this letter should not
be  construed  as a  consent  by us,  within  the meaning  of  Section 7  of the
Securities Act of 1933, to the use of the name of Standard & Poor's, a  Division
of  The McGraw-Hill  Companies in  connection with  the ratings  assigned to the
securities contained in the insured trusts. You are hereby authorized to file  a
copy of this letter with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
    Please  be certain to send us three  copies of your final prospectus as soon
as it becomes available. Should we  not receive them within a reasonable  amount
of  time  after the  closing or  should  they not  conform to  the certification
received by us, we reserve the right to nullify the ratings.
 
Very truly yours,
 
STANDARD & POOR'S, A DIVISION OF THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES
 
By Sanford Bragg

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3.2
 
(ON CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LETTERHEAD)
 
   
July 11, 1996
    
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
 
   
RE:  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875
    
 
Gentlemen:
 
   
    We  have served  as counsel  for you, as  Depositor of  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit
Trust, Series 875 (the "Fund") in  connection with the issuance under the  Trust
Indenture  and  Agreement,  dated the  date  hereof  between John  Nuveen  & Co.
Incorporated, as Depositor, and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association),
as Trustee,  of  Units  of  fractional  undivided  interest  (the  "Units"),  as
evidenced by a book entry position or certificate, if requested by the purchaser
of Units, in the one or more Trusts of said Fund.
    
 
   
    We  have also  served as  counsel for  you in  connection with  all previous
Series of the Nuveen  Tax-Free Unit Trust and  as such have previously  examined
such  pertinent  records and  documents and  matters  of law  as we  have deemed
necessary, including (but  not limited  to) the Trust  Indenture and  Agreements
with  respect to those series. We have  also examined such pertinent records and
documents and matters  of law  as we have  deemed necessary  including (but  not
limited  to) the Trust Indenture and  Agreement relating to Nuveen Tax-Free Unit
Trust, Series 875.
    
 
    We have concluded that  the Trust Indenture and  Agreement for the Fund  and
its counterpart in each of the prior issues of Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust are in
all material respects substantially identical.
 
    Based  upon the foregoing, and upon such matters of law as we consider to be
applicable we are of the opinion that, under existing federal income law:
 
    (i)  For  Federal income tax  purposes, each of  the Trusts will  not be  an
association  taxable as a corporation but will  be governed by the provisions of
Subchapter J (relating to  Trusts) of Chapter 1,  Internal Revenue Code of  1986
(the "Code").
 
    (ii)   Each Unitholder will be considered as owning a pro rata share of each
asset of the respective Trust of the  Fund in the proportion that the number  of
Units  of such Trust held by him bears  to the total number of outstanding Units
of such Trust. Under Subpart E, Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the Code, income of
each Trust  will  be  treated  as  income of  each  Unitholder  thereof  in  the
proportion described and an item of Trust income will have the same character in
the  hands  of a  Unitholder  as it  would  have in  the  hands of  the Trustee.
Accordingly, to the extent that the income  of a Trust consists of interest  and
original  issue discount excludable  from gross income under  Section 103 of the
Code,  such  income  will  be  excludable  from  Federal  gross  income  of  the
Unitholder,  except in the case of a Unitholder  who is a substantial user (or a
person related to  such user)  of a facility  financed through  issuance of  any
industrial  development  bonds or  certain private  activity  bonds held  by the
Trust. In the case of such Unitholder  who is a substantial user (and no  other)
interest  received with  respect to  his Units  attributable to  such industrial
development bonds or  such private  activity bonds  is includable  in his  gross
income.  In the case of certain corporations,  interest on the Bonds is included
in computing the alternative minimum tax pursuant to Sections 56(c) of the Code,
the enviromental tax (the "Superfund Tax") imposed by Sections 59A of the  Code,
and  the branch profits tax  imposed by Section 884 of  the Code with respect to
U.S. branches of foreign corporations.
 
    (iii)  Gain or loss  will be recognized to  a Unitholder upon redemption  or
sale  of his Units. Such  gain or loss is measured  by comparing the proceeds of
such  redemption  or  sale  with  the  adjusted  basis  of  such  Units.  Before
adjustment, such basis would normally be cost if the Unitholder had acquired his
Units  by purchase,  plus his aliquot  share of  advances by the  Trustee to the
Trust to pay interest on Bonds delivered after the Unitholder's settlement  date
to the extent that such interest accrued on the Bonds during the period from the
Unitholder's  settlement date to the date such Bonds are delivered to the Trust,
but only to the extent that such advances are to be repaid to the Trustee out of
interest received by  the Fund  with respect to  such Bonds.  In addition,  such
basis  will be increased by  both the Unitholder's aliquot  share of the accrued
original issue  discount  (and market  discount,  if the  Unitholder  elects  to
include   market   discount  in   income  as   it   accrues)  with   respect  to
<PAGE>
each Bond held by the  Trust with respect to which  there was an original  issue
discount  at the time  the Bond was  issued (or which  was purchased with market
discount) and reduced  by the annual  amortization of bond  premium, if any,  on
Bonds held by the Trust.
 
    (iv)   If the Trustee disposes of a Trust asset (whether by sale, payment on
maturity, redemption or otherwise), gain or loss is recognized to the Unitholder
and the amount thereof is measured  by comparing the Unitholder's aliquot  share
of  the total proceeds  from the transaction  with his basis  for his fractional
interest in the asset disposed of. Such basis is ascertained by apportioning the
tax basis for his Units among each of the Trust assets (as of the date on  which
his  Units were acquired) ratably according to  their values as of the valuation
date nearest the date on which he purchased such Units. A Unitholder's basis  in
his  Units and of his fractional interest in each Trust asset must be reduced by
the amount of his aliquot  share of interest received by  the Trust, if any,  on
Bonds  delivered after the Unitholder's settlement  date to the extent that such
interest accrued on the Bonds during the period from the Unitholder's settlement
date to the date such Bonds are delivered  to the Trust, must be reduced by  the
annual  amortization of bond  premium, if any,  on Bonds held  by the Trust; and
must be increased by the Unitholder's  share of accrued original issue  discount
(and  market discount,  if the Unitholder  elects to include  market discount in
income as it accrues) with respect to each Bond which, at the time the Bond  was
issued,  had  original  issue  discount  (or  which  was  purchased  with market
discount).
 
    (v)  In the case of any Bond held by the Trust where the "stated  redemption
price  at maturity"  exceeds the  "issue price,"  such excess  shall be original
issue discount. With respect to each Unitholder, upon the purchase of his  Units
subsequent  to  the  original  issuance  of  Bonds  held  by  the  Trust Section
1272(a)(7) of the Code provides for  a reduction in the accrued "daily  portion"
of  such original issue discount  upon the purchase of  a Bond subsequent to the
Bond's original issue, under certain circumstances. In the case of any Bond held
by the Trust the interest on which is excludable from gross income under Section
103 of the Code, any original issue discount which accrues with respect  thereto
will  be treated as interest which is excludable from gross income under Section
103 of the Code.
 
    (vi)  In the  case of Trusts for  which MBIA Insurance Corporation  ("MBIA")
insurance  with respect to each of the Bonds deposited therein has been obtained
by the Depositor or the issuer or underwriter of the Bonds, we have examined the
form of MBIA's policy  or several policies of  insurance (the "Policies")  which
have  been delivered to the Trustee. Assuming issuance of Policies in such form,
in our  opinion, any  amounts  paid under  said Policies  representing  maturing
interest  on defaulted obligations  held by the Trustee  will be excludable from
Federal gross income if,  and to the  same extent as,  such interest would  have
been  so excludable if paid in normal  course by the respective issuer, provided
that, at  the  time such  policies  are purchased,  the  amounts paid  for  such
policies   are  reasonable,   customary  and  consistent   with  the  reasonable
expectation that the issuer of the bonds, rather than the insurer, will pay debt
service on the bonds. Paragraph (ii)  of this opinion is accordingly  applicable
to Policy proceeds representing maturing interest.
 
    Sections  1288 and 1272 of the Code provide a complex set of rules governing
the accrual of original issue discount. These rules provide that original  issue
discount  accrues either on  the basis of  a constant compound  interest rate or
ratably over the term of the Bond, depending on the date the Bond was issued. In
addition, special  rules apply  if the  purchase  price of  a Bond  exceeds  the
original issue price plus the amount of original issue discount which would have
previously  accrued based upon its issue price (its "adjusted issue price"). The
application of these rules will also vary depending on the value of the bond  on
the  date a Unitholder acquires his Units, and the price the Unitholder pays for
his Units.
 
    Because the Trusts do  not include any "private  activity bonds" within  the
meaning  of Section 57(a)(5) of the Code issued on or after August 8, 1986, none
of the  Trust  Fund's  interest income  shall  be  treated as  an  item  of  tax
preference   when  computing  the  alternative  minimum  tax.  In  the  case  of
corporations,  for  taxable  years  beginning  after  December  31,  1986,   the
alter-native  minimum tax  and the Superfund  Tax depend  upon the corporation's
alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI"), which is the corporation's  taxable
income with certain adjustments.
 
    Pursuant  to Section 56(c) of the Code,  one of the adjustment items used in
computing AMTI  and  the  Superfund  Tax  of a  corporation  (other  than  an  S
Corporation,  Regulated  Investment  Company, Real  Estate  Investment  Trust or
REMIC) for tax years beginning in 1989 is  an amount equal to 75% of the  excess
of  such corporation's "adjusted  current earnings" over an  amount equal to its
AMTI
<PAGE>
(before such  adjustment  item  and  the  alternative  tax  net  operating  loss
deduction).  "Adjusted  current  earnings"  includes  all  tax-exempt  interest,
including interest on  all Bonds  in the  Trust, and  tax-exempt original  issue
discount.
 
    Effective  for tax returns filed after  December 31, 1987, all taxpayers are
required to disclose to  the Internal Revenue Service  the amount of  tax-exempt
interest earned during the year.
 
    Section  265 of the  Code provides for  a reduction in  each taxable year of
100% of the otherwise deductible interest on indebtedness incurred or  continued
by  financial institutions, to  which either Section  585 or Section  593 of the
Code applies, to  purchase or carry  obligations acquired after  August 7,  1986
(with  certain exceptions), the interest on  which is exempt from Federal income
taxes for such taxable year. Under  rules prescribed by Section 265, the  amount
of  interest otherwise deductible by such  financial institutions in any taxable
year which is deemed to be attributable to tax-exempt obligations acquired after
August 7, 1986  will be the  amount that bears  the same ratio  to the  interest
deduction  otherwise allowable (determined without regard to Section 265) to the
taxpayer for the taxable year as  the taxpayer's average adjusted basis  (within
the  meaning of Section 1016) of tax-exempt obligations acquired after August 7,
1986, bears  to such  average adjusted  basis for  all assets  of the  taxpayer,
unless  such financial institution can  otherwise establish under regulations to
be prescribed  by the  Secretary of  the  Treasury, the  amount of  interest  on
indebtedness  incurred or  continued to purchase  or carry  such obligations. On
December 7,  1995 the  U.S. Treasury  Department released  proposed  legislation
that,  if adopted, would generally extend the financial institution rules to all
corporations, effective for obligations acquired after the date of announcement.
 
    We also call  attention to the  fact that,  under Section 265  of the  Code,
interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry Units is not
deductible  for Federal  income tax purposes.  Under rules used  by the Internal
Revenue Service for determining when borrowed funds are con-sidered used for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying particular  assets, the purchase of Units  may
be  considered to have  been made with  borrowed funds even  though the borrowed
funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of Units. However, these  rules
generally   do  not  apply  to  interest   paid  on  indebtedness  incurred  for
expenditures of a  personal nature such  as a mortgage  incurred to purchase  or
improve a personal residence.
 
    "The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993" (the "Tax Act") subjects tax-exempt
bonds  to the market  discount rules of  the Code effective  for bonds purchased
after April 30,  1993. In general,  market discount  is the amount  (if any)  by
which  the stated  redemption price at  maturity exceeds  an investor's purchase
price (except to  the extent that  such difference, if  any, is attributable  to
original issue discount not yet accrued) subject to a statutory de minimis rule.
Market discount can arise based on the price a Trust pays for Bonds or the price
a  Unitholder pays for his or her Units.  Under the Tax Act, accretion of market
discount is taxable as ordinary income; under prior law, the accretion had  been
treated  as capital gain.  Market discount that  accretes while a  Trust holds a
Bond would be recognized  as ordinary income by  the Unitholders when  principal
payments  are received on the Bond, upon  sale or at redemption (including early
redemption), or  upon the  sale or  redemption of  his or  her Units,  unless  a
Unitholder elects to include market discount in taxable income as it accrues.
 
   
    We  hereby  consent to  the  filing of  this opinion  as  an exhibit  to the
Registration Statement (File No.  333-05993) relating to  the Units referred  to
above  and to  the use  of our  name and to  the reference  to our  firm in said
Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.
    
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3.3
 
(ON SHERMAN & HOWARD L.L.C. LETTERHEAD)
 
   
JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust,
Series 875
c/o Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
770 Broadway
New York, New York 10003
    
 
RE: Colorado Insured Trust 64
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
   
    We  have acted as special counsel to  the Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series
875 (the "Fund") with respect to certain  applications of the income tax law  of
the  State of Colorado  to the above  captioned Trust(s) created  as part of the
Fund (the "Colorado Trust(s)") and to the holders of certificates or  registered
holders  of book  entry positions  evidencing ownership  of fractional undivided
interest ("Units") in the  Colorado Trust(s) who are  residents of the State  of
Colorado ("Colorado Unitholders").
    
 
    In  this connection, we have examined the  form of an opinion of Chapman and
Cutler, counsel for John Nuveen &  Co. Incorporated, the Depositor, to be  dated
today,  as to the  federal tax status  of the several  constituent trusts of the
Fund and the holders of Units, including the Colorado Trust(s) and the  Colorado
Unitholders. Chapman and Cutler has advised us that its opinion, as executed and
delivered, will be in all material respects identical to such form. We have also
examined  such pertinent materials and matters of  law as we deemed necessary in
order to enable us to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.
 
    It is our understanding  that a Colorado Trust  will consist of  obligations
which  were issued by the State of  Colorado or its political subdivisions or by
the United States or  possessions of the United  States, including Puerto  Rico,
the  Virgin Islands and  Guam ("Bonds"). The following  opinion assumes that the
Colorado Trust(s) will  have no  income other than  (i) interest  income on  the
Bonds,  (ii) insurance proceeds, if any, referred to in paragraph (3) below, and
(iii) gain on the disposition of such Bonds.
 
    Based on  the foregoing  and, with  your permission,  in reliance  upon  the
opinion  of  Chapman  and Cutler  referred  to  above, it  is  our  opinion that
application of existing Colorado income tax law would be as follows:
 
    The Chapman  and Cutler  opinion concludes  that each  trust, including  the
Colorado Trust(s), will be governed by the provisions of subchapter J of chapter
1,  Internal Revenue Code of  1986 (the "Code"). Although  there are no Colorado
income tax  statutes similar  to subchapter  J of  chapter 1  of the  Code,  the
Colorado statutory provisions generally operate to reach the same result that is
reached  under  the  federal system.  The  income, deduction,  and  credit items
directly reportable by the "owner" of a  trust under the federal rules are  also
directly  reportable by that same person under Colorado rules. Conversely, items
of income, deduction, and credit  not reportable for federal purposes  typically
are  not reported for Colorado purposes.  For resident individuals, estates, and
trusts, Colorado law imposes a tax on federal taxable income, as defined in  the
Code,  with specific  modifications. For corporations,  a tax is  imposed on net
income derived  from sources  within  Colorado. A  corporation's net  income  is
defined  as federal taxable income, again  with certain modifications. There are
two  modifications  relevent  to  this  opinion.  First,  interest  income  less
amortization  of premium on obligations of any state or any politcal subdivision
thereof must be  added to federal  taxable income; however,  interest income  on
obligations  of the State  of Colorado or a  political subdivision thereof which
are issued  on  or  after  May  1,  1980  is  specifically  excluded  from  this
modification.  Interest  income on  obligations of  the State  of Colorado  or a
political subdivision  thereof which  were issued  before May  1, 1980  is  also
excluded from this modification to the extent that such interest is specifically
exempt  from income taxation under the laws of the State of Colorado authorizing
the issuance  of such  obligations.  The second  relevent modification  is  that
interest  income  on obligations  of the  United States  and its  possessions is
subtracted from federal taxable income to the extent it was included in  federal
taxable income.
 
    Colorado  also imposes  on individuals,  estates, and  trusts an alternative
minimum tax based on the  federal alternative minimum taxable income  determined
pursuant to Section 55 of the Code. As with the modifications to federal taxable
income  pertaining to interest  income on Colorado  exempt obligations, interest
income on obligations of the State of Colorado and political sudivisions thereof
which are issued on or after May 1,  1980, or which were issued prior to May  1,
1980  but  have  interest specifically  exempt  from income  taxation  under the
Colorado laws authorizing the issuance of  such obligations, is not included  in
the  modification that otherwise requires  that interest income from obligations
of states  or political  subdivisions thereof  be added  to federal  alternative
<PAGE>
minimum  taxable  income. Furthermore,  interest  income on  obligations  of the
United States and its possessions is subtracted from federal alternative minimum
taxable income.
 
    Because Colorado income tax law is based  upon the federal law and in  light
of  the  opinion  of Chapman  and  Cutler,  the Colorado  Trust(s)  will  not be
association(s)  taxable  as  corporation(s)  for  purposes  of  Colorado  income
taxation.
 
    With  respect to Colorado  Unitholders, in view  of the relationship between
federal and Colorado tax computations described above and the opinion of Chapman
and Cutler referred to above:
 
    1.--Each Colorado Unitholder will be treated as owning a share of each asset
of the Colorado Unitholder's respective  Colorado Trust for Colorado income  tax
purposes, in the proportion that the number of Units of such Colorado Trust held
by the Unitholder bears to the total number of outstanding Units of the Colorado
Trust,  and the income  of the Colorado  Trust will therefore  be treated as the
income of  each  Colorado  Unitholder  under  Colorado  law  in  the  proportion
described;
 
    2.--Interest  on Bonds  that would  not be included  in the  base subject to
Colorado income tax or Colorado alternative minimum tax when paid directly to  a
Colorado  Unitholder will not be included in the base subject to Colorado income
tax or alternative minimum tax when received by a Colorado Trust and  attributed
to such Colorado Unitholder and when distributed to such Colorado Unitholder;
 
    3.--Proceeds paid under an insurance policy, if any, issued to the issuer of
the Bonds involved, to the Depositor prior to deposit of the Bonds in a Colorado
Trust,  or to  a Colorado Trust,  which proceeds represent  maturing interest on
defaulted Bonds and which proceeds would not be included in the base subject  to
Colorado  income tax or Colorado alternative minimum tax when paid directly to a
Colorado Unitholder will not be included in the base subject to Colorado  income
and  alternative minimum tax when received by a Colorado Trust and attributed to
such Colorado Unitholder and when distributed to such Colorado Unitholder;
 
    4.--Each Colorado Unitholder will realize  gain or loss taxable in  Colorado
when  the Colorado  Unitholder's respective  Colorado Trust  disposes of  a Bond
(whether by sale,  exchange, redemption,  or payment  at maturity)  or when  the
Colorado Unitholder redeems or sells Units at a price that differs from original
cost  as adjusted for amortization  of bond discount or  premium and other basis
adjustments (including any  basis reduction that  may be required  to reflect  a
Colorado  Unitholder's share of  interest, if any, accruing  on Bonds during the
interval between the  Colorado Unitholder's  settlement date and  the date  such
Bonds are delivered to the Colorado Trust, if later);
 
    5.--Tax cost reduction requirements relating to amortization of bond premium
may,  under some  circumstances, result  in Colorado  Unitholders realizing gain
taxable in Colorado when their Units are sold or redeemed for an amount equal to
or less than their original cost; and
 
    6.--If  interest  on  indebtedness  incurred  or  continued  by  a  Colorado
Unitholder to purchase Units in the Colorado Trust is not deductible for federal
income tax purposes, it will not be deductible for Colorado income tax purposes.
 
    We  have  not examined  any of  the Bonds  to be  deposited in  the Colorado
Trusts(s) and express no opinion as to whether the interest (or, if  applicable,
insurance  proceeds representing  interest) on any  such Bonds would  in fact be
included in the  base subject  to Colorado  income tax  or Colorado  alternative
minimum tax if directly received by a Colorado Unitholder.
 
   
    We  hereby  consent to  the  filing of  this opinion  as  an exhibit  to the
Registration Statement (File No.  333-05993) relating to  the Units referred  to
above  and  to the  use  of our  name  and the  reference  to our  firm  in such
Registration Statement, and in  the related Prospectus,  under the "Tax  Status"
heading  for each Colorado  Trust in the  Fund. In addition,  we authorize Chase
Manhattan Bank, N.A. to rely upon this opinion in its capacity as Trustee of the
Fund.
    
 
Very truly yours,
 
SHERMAN & HOWARD L.L.C.

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3.3
 
(ON CHAPMAN & CUTLER LETTERHEAD)
 
   
JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust,
Series 875
c/o John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
    
 
   
The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association),
as Trustee for Nuveen Tax-Free Unit
Trust, Series 875
770 Broadway
New York, New York 10003
    
 
Re:--Georgia Insured Trust 52
 
    Gentlemen:
 
   
    We  have acted as  counsel to Nuveen  Tax-Free Unit Trust,  Series 875, with
respect to certain  matters preliminary  to the issuance  and sale  of units  of
interest  therein (the  "Units") pursuant  to a  Trust Indenture  and Agreement,
dated as  of  the date  hereof  (the "Indenture"),  between  John Nuveen  &  Co.
Incorporated, as depositor (the "Depositor"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank N.A.,
as  trustee (the "Trustee"). The  Units represent fractional undivided interests
in the principal of and  net income on obligations  deposited in one of  several
separate  trusts  including the  above-captioned  trust (the  "Trust"),  will be
evidenced by  a certificate  (the "Certificate")  and will  be sold  to  various
investors  (the "Unitholders").  Each separate trust  will be  administered as a
distinct entity  with separate  certificates, investments,  expenses, books  and
records.
    
 
    The  assets of the Trust will consist of interest-bearing obligations issued
by  or  on  behalf  of  the   State  of  Georgia  (the  "State")  or   counties,
municipalities,  authorities  or  political subdivisions  thereof  (the "Georgia
Bonds") or  by  the  Commonwealth  of Puerto  Rico  (the  "Puerto  Rico  Bonds")
(collectively,  the "Bonds"). Distributions of interest on the Bonds received by
the Trust will be made semi-annually unless a Unitholder elects to receive  them
monthly or quarterly.
 
    Although we express no opinion with respect therto, in rendering the opinion
expressed  herein, we  have assumed  that the Bonds  were validly  issued by the
State of Georgia or its instrumentalities or municipalities and the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, as the case may be.
 
    Based on the foregoing, and review and consideration of existing State laws,
it is our opinion, and we herewith advise you, as follows:
 
    1.--For purposes of income taxation  by the State of  Georgia or any of  its
counties or municipalities:
 
    (a)--The  Trust  is not  an association  taxable as  a corporation  and each
Unitholder of the Trust will  be treated as the owner  of a pro-rata portion  of
the  Trust, and the income of the Trust  will therefore be treated as the income
of the Unitholder;
 
    (b)--Interest on  the Georgia  Bonds  and the  Puerto  Rico Bonds  which  is
excludable  from gross income  for federal income tax  purposes when received by
the Trust will be exempt from Georgia income taxation and therefore will not  be
includable  in  the  income  of  the Unitholder  for  income  tax  purposes when
distributed by the Trust and received by the Unitholder;
 
    (c)--Each Unitholder of the Trust will recognize gain or loss for income tax
purposes if the Trustee disposes of  a Bond (whether by sale, exchange,  payment
on  maturity, retirement  or otherwise)  or if  the Unitholder  redeems or sells
Units of the Trust to the extent  that such transaction results in a  recognized
gain or loss for federal income tax purposes;
 
    (d)--Due  to  the amortization  of bond  premium  and the  basis adjustments
required by the Internal Revenue  Code, a Unitholder, under some  circumstances,
may realize taxable gain when his or her Units are sold or redeemed prior to the
maturity  of Bonds held  by the Trust for  an amount less than  or equal to such
Units' original cost;
 
    (e)--In the case of Bonds issued  before March 11, 1987 with original  issue
discount the amount of gain or loss recognized for income tax purposes upon such
sale   or   redemption   of   the   Bonds  or   Units   may   differ   from  the
<PAGE>
amount recognized  for  federal  income  tax  purposes  because  original  issue
discount on such Bonds may accrue on ratable basis under Georgia law;
 
    (f)--Interest  on indebtedness incurred by a Unitholder to purchase or carry
Units of the Trust and Trustee fees  and related expenses incurred by the  Trust
which are not deductible for federal income tax purposes are also not deductible
under Georgia law;
 
    2.--Units of the Trust are not subject to sales or use taxation by the State
of Georgia or any political subdivision thereof;
 
    3.--Georgia  Bonds  and  Puerto Rico  Bonds  are not  subject  to intangible
personal property taxation by the State of Georgia or any political  subdivision
thereof. But see below regarding intangible personal property tax legislation;
 
    4.--No opinion is expressed regarding whether Units of the Trust are subject
to  intangilble personal  property taxation  by the  State of  Georgia, however,
according to  discussions with  the Georgia  Department of  Revenue, it  is  the
Department's  view that Units of the Trust would be subject to such tax. But see
below regarding intangible personal property tax legislation;
 
    5.--Georgia Bonds and  Puerto Rico  Bonds are not  subject to  sales or  use
taxation by the State of Georgia or any political subdivision thereof;
 
    6.--In  the case of  Trusts for which  an insurance policy  or policies with
respect to the payment of principal and interest on the Georgia Bonds and Puerto
Rico Bonds has  been obtained  by the Depositor,  any proceeds  paid under  such
policy or policies issued to the Trust, if any, with respect to the Bonds in the
Trust  which represent  maturing interest on  defaulted obligations  held by the
Trustee will be exempt from  State income taxes if, and  to the same extent  as,
such  interest would have been so exempt if paid by the issurer of the defaulted
obligations provided that, at the time such policies are purchased, the  amounts
paid  for  such  policies  are reasonable,  customary  and  consistent  with the
reasonable expectation that the  issuer of the Bonds,  rather than the  insurer,
will  pay  debt  service  on  the  Bonds.  Paragraph  1(b)  of  this  opinion is
accordingly applicable to policy proceeds representing maturing interest.
 
    The Georgia state  legislature has  recently passed  legislation that  would
repeal   the  intangible  personal  property   tax  in  Georgia.  Although  such
legislation would be effective immediately,  lawmakers in Georgia are  uncertain
as  to whether the tax  could be abolished by the  General Assembly or whether a
constitutional amendment is necessary.  Thus, additional legislation was  passed
which  enables the Georgia legislature to repeal the intangible tax, but only if
voters approve a constitutional amendment in  the fall. As the effectiveness  of
the  legislation repealing  the tax is  uncertain at this  time, Unitholders are
advised to consult their tax advisers in this regard.
 
    We have not examined any of the Bonds to be deposited and held in the  Trust
or the proceedings for the issuance thereof or the opinions of bond counsel with
respect thereto, and therefore express no opinion as to the exemption from State
income taxes of interest on the Bonds if received directly by a Unitholder.
 
   
    We  hereby  consent to  the  filing of  this opinion  as  an exhibit  to the
Registration Statement (No. 333-05993) filed  pursuant to the Securities Act  of
1933,  as amended (the "Act"),  with respect to the  registration of the sale of
the Units by Nuveen Tax-Free  Unit Trust, Series 875,  and to the references  to
our  firm in such Registration Statement and the preliminary prospectus included
therein. In giving such  consent, we do  not thereby admit  that we are  persons
whose  consent is required by Section 7 of the Act, or the rules and regulations
thereunder.
    
 
Very truly yours,
 
Chapman & Cutler

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3.3
 
(ON EDWARDS & ANGELL LETTERHEAD)
 
   
JULY 11, 1996
    
 
   
Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875
In care of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
    
 
Attention of James J. Wesolowski, Esq.
Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
 
   
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.,
as Trustee of Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875
770 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
    
 
Re:  Massachusetts Insured Trust 138
 
Dear Sirs:
 
   
    We  have acted as  special counsel, with respect  to Massachusetts State and
local tax matters, to the above  mentioned Trust(s) ("Trust(s)") of Nuveen  Tax-
Free  Unit Trust,  Series 875 (the  "Fund") concerning  a Registration Statement
(No. 333-05993) on Form S-6  under the Securities Act  of 1933, as amended  (the
"Registration  Statement"),  covering  the  issuance by  the  Fund  of  Units of
fractional undivided interest in the Fund.
    
 
    We have not been furnished with a copy of the Registration Statement or  the
prospectus,  which  is a  part of  the Registration  Statement, relating  to the
issuance by the Fund of the Units.  However, John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated  has
authorized  us to assume that  the proposed offer and sale  of the Units will be
carried out in that same manner and  upon the same terms and conditions as  that
described  in the prospectus for the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 351 --
Massachusetts Trust 182, dated November 6, 1985.
 
    We have been furnished with a copy  of the opinion of Chapman and Cutler  on
the   federal  tax  status  of  the  Fund,  its  constituent  Trusts  and  their
Unitholders.
 
    In addition, we have also examined applicable Massachusetts law and a ruling
of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue  dated February 7, 1985, relating  to
Multi-State Series 162.
 
    Based  on  the foregoing  it  is our  opinion  that under  existing  law and
administration of the affairs of the Trust(s):
 
    A.--For Massachusetts income tax purposes, each  Trust will be treated as  a
corporate  trust under Section 8 of Chapter 62 of the Massachusetts General Laws
("M.G.L.") and not as a grantor trust under Section 10(e) of M.G.L. Chapter 62.
 
    B.--The  Trust(s)  will  not  be  held   to  be  engaging  in  business   in
Massachusetts  within the meaning of said Section  8 and will, therefore, not be
subject to Massachusetts income tax.
 
    C.--Unitholders who  are  subject  to Massachusetts  income  taxation  under
M.G.L. Chapter 62 will not be required to include their respective shares of the
earnings  of or  distributions from  the Trust(s)  in their  Massachusetts gross
income to the extent  that such earnings  or distributions represent  tax-exempt
interest  excludable from gross income for  federal income tax purposes received
by  the  Trust(s)  on  obligations   issued  by  Massachusetts,  its   counties,
municipalities,  authorities, political subdivisions  or instrumentalities or by
Puerto Rico, the  Virgin Islands, Guam,  the Northern Mariana  Islands or  other
possessions  of the United  States within the  meaning of Section  103(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Obligations").
 
    D.--In the  case  of a  Massachusetts  Insured Trust,  Unitholders  who  are
subject  to Massachusetts  income taxation under  M.G.L. Chapter 62  will not be
required to include their respective shares of the earnings of or  distributions
from  such Trust  in their  Massachsetts gross  income to  the extent  that such
earnings or distributions are derived from the proceeds of insurance obtained by
the Sponsor of such Trust or by the issuer or underwriter of an obligation  held
by  such Trust that represent maturing interest on defaulted obligations held by
the Trustee, if and to the same extent that such earnings or distributions would
have been excludable from the gross  income of such Unitholders if derived  from
interest paid by the issuer of the defaulted obligation.
<PAGE>
    E.--Unitholders  which  are corporations  subject  to taxation  under M.G.L.
Chapter 63 will be required to  include their respective shares of the  earnings
of or distributions from the Trust(s) in their Massachusetts gross income to the
extent  that such earnings or distributions represent interest from bonds, notes
or indebtedness of any state, including Massachusetts, except for interest which
is specifically exempted from such tax by the acts authorizing issuance of  said
Obligations.
 
    F.--Each Trust's capital gains and/or capital losses which are includable in
the  federal gross income of Unitholders who are subject to Massachusetts income
taxation under M.G.L. Chapter 62, or Unitholders which are corporations  subject
to  Massachusetts taxation under  M.G.L. Chapter 63 will  be included as capital
gains and/or losses in the  Unitholders' Massachusetts gross income, except  for
capital gain which is specifically exempted from taxation under such Chapters by
the acts authorizing issuance of said Obligations.
 
    G.--Unitholders  which are corporations subject  to tax under M.G.L. Chapter
63 and which are tangible property corporations will not be required to  include
the   Units  when  determining  the  value  of  their  tangible  property;  such
Unitholders which  are  intangible property  corporations  will be  required  to
include the Units when determining their net worth.
 
    H.--Gains or losses realized on sales or redemptions of Units by Unitholders
who  are subject  to Massachusetts  income taxation  under M.G.L.  Chapter 62 or
Unitholders which  are  corporations  subject to  Massachusetts  taxation  under
M.G.L.  Chapter 63  will be includable  in their Massachusetts  gross income. In
determining such gain or loss Unitholders will, to the same extent required  for
Federal tax purposes, have to adjust their tax bases for their Units for accrued
interest  received, if  any, on Obligations  delivered to the  Trustee after the
Unitholders pay  for their  Units,  for amortization  of  premiums, if  any,  on
Obligations  held by the Trust(s), and  for accrued original issue discount with
respect to each  Obligation which, at  the time the  Obligation was issued,  had
original issue discount.
 
    I.--The  Units of the Trust(s) are not subject to any property tax levied by
Massachusetts or any political subdivision thereof, nor to any income tax levied
by any such political subdivision. They are includable in the gross estate of  a
deceased  Unitholder  who is  a resident  of Massachusetts  for purposes  of the
Massachusetts Estate Tax.
 
    The foregoing  opinions are  based upon  present provisions  of federal  and
Massachusetts  law, administrative interpretations  thereof and court decisions.
With respect  to Unitholders  which are  corporations subject  to  Massachusetts
taxation under M.G.L. Chapter 63, no opinion is rendered on the includability of
their respective shares of the earnings of or distributions from the Trust(s) in
their   Massachusetts  gross  income  to  the   extent  that  such  earnings  or
distributions represent interest  from bonds, notes,  or indebtedness of  Puerto
Rico,   the  Virgin  Islands,  Guam,  the  Northern  Mariana  Islands  or  other
possessions of the  United States within  the meaning of  Section 103(c) of  the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
    We  hereby  consent to  the  filing of  this opinion  as  an exhibit  to the
Registration Statement and  to the reference  to our firm  in such  Registration
Statement and the Prospectus included therein.
 
Very truly yours,
 
EDWARDS & ANGELL

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3.3
 
(ON PITNEY, HARDIN, KIPP & SZUCH LETTERHEAD)
 
   
JULY 11, 1996
    
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
 
   
RE:  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875
     New Jersey Insured Trust 209
    
 
Gentlemen:
 
   
    We  have acted  as special  counsel, with  respect to  New Jersey  state tax
matters, to Nuveen  Tax-Free Unit Trust,  Series 875 (the  "Fund") concerning  a
Registration  Statement (No. 333-05993) on Form  S-6 under the Securities Act of
1933, as  amended, covering  the issuance  by the  Fund of  units of  fractional
undivided  interest (the "Units") in several  state trusts (the "State Trusts"),
one of which is the above-captioned trust ("New Jersey Trust"). Such Units  will
be purchased by various investors ("Unitholders").
    
 
    The   Fund  is  organized  under  a   Trust  Indenture  and  Agreement  (the
"Indenture") of even date herewith between  John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated  (the
"Depositor")  and The Chase  Manhattan Bank, N.A. (the  "Trustee"). Each Unit of
the New Jersey Trust represents a fractional undivided interest in the principal
and net income of the New  Jersey Trust in the ratio  of ten Units for each  one
thousand  dollars  ($1,000) of  principal  amount of  the  obligations initially
acquired by the New Jersey Trust. The New Jersey Trust will be administered as a
distinct entity  with separate  certificates, investments,  expenses, books  and
records.
 
    In  acting as special  counsel, we have examined  such documents and records
with respect to the immediately preceding series of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust
- -Series which  included a  State  Trust consisting  primarily of  Bonds  (herein
defined)  (the "Prior Series") as we  deem necessary, including, but not limited
to, the Trust  Indenture and Agreement  (the "Prior Series  Indenture") and  the
Prospectus.  You have  advised that the  Indenture is identical  in all material
respects to the Prior Series Indenture.  You have also advised that the  opinion
of  Messrs. Chapman and Cutler with respect  to the Federal income tax status of
the Fund, its constituent  State Trusts and its  Unitholders is in all  material
respects  identical to the opinion issued by  Messrs. Chapman and Cutler for the
Prior Series.
 
    We  note  that  the  assets  of  the  New  Jersey  Trust  will  consist   of
interest-bearing  obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of New Jersey,
and counties,  municipalities,  authorities  and  other  political  subdivisions
thereof,  and certain  territories of the  United States  including Puerto Rico,
Guam, the  Virgin  Islands  and  the Northern  Mariana  Islands  (the  "Bonds").
Distributions  of the interest received by the  New Jersey Trust will be made to
each Unitholder  semi-annually  unless the  Unitholder  elects to  receive  such
distributions on a monthly or quarterly basis. In the opinion of bond counsel to
each  issuer, the interest on  all Bonds in the New  Jersey Trust is exempt from
Federal income tax under existing law.
 
    We understand that on  this date (the "Date  of Deposit") the Depositor  has
deposited  with  the  Trustee  the total  principal  amount  of interest-bearing
obligations  and/or  contracts  for  the  purchase  thereof  together  with   an
irrevocable  letter of credit in the amount  required for the purchase price and
accrued interest, if any, and an  insurance policy or policies purchased by  the
Depositor  and issued by the Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation (the
"Insurer") evidencing the insurance guaranteeing the timely payment of principal
and interest of some of  the obligations comprising the  corpus of the Fund,  as
more  fully  set  forth in  the  Preliminary Prospectus.  All  other obligations
included in the deposit described above will be covered by insurance obtained by
the issuer of such obligations from  the Insurer guaranteeing timely payment  of
principal  and interest. Such insurance will provide that the amount paid by the
Insurer in  respect of  any Bond  may not  exceed the  amount of  principal  and
interest  due on the Bond  and such payment will in  no event relieve the issuer
from its continuing obligation to pay  such defaulted principal and interest  in
accordance with the terms of the obligation.
 
    Section  2.04 of the Indenture provides that  each State Trust is a separate
and distinct trust for all  purposes, the assets of one  State Trust may not  be
commingled  with the assets of  any other State Trust,  and that the expenses of
one State Trust shall not be charged against any other State Trust. Section 2.04
further  provides  that  the  certificates  representing  the  ownership  of  an
undivided  fractional interest in one State  Trust shall not be exchangeable for
certificates representing the ownership of  an undivided fractional interest  in
any other State Trust.
 
    The Indenture provides further, among other things, that the Trustee shall:
<PAGE>
    A.--Collect  all interest  and monies payable  to the New  Jersey Trust, and
hold the funds collected in trust on behalf of the Unitholders of the New Jersey
Trust;
 
    B.--Set aside from such funds any amounts necessary for the reimbursement of
advances and for  the payment  of expenses,  taxes and  governmental charges  in
respect of the New Jersey Trust;
 
    C.--Distribute  all remaining amounts semi-annually, or monthly or quarterly
if so  elected  by a  Unitholder,  to the  Unitholders  in proportion  to  their
interest in the New Jersey Trust;
 
    D.--Redeem any certificates tendered for redemption by a Unitholder provided
that  the Trustee has notified the Depositor of the tender and the Depositor has
failed to  indicate  within a  time  specified in  the  Indenture that  it  will
purchase the tendered certificates from the tendering Unitholder;
 
    E.--Sell  or  liquidate  any or  all  Bonds  at the  sole  direction  of the
Depositor and at such price and time  and in such manner as shall be  determined
by  the Depositor, provided  that the Depositor  has determined that  any one or
more of certain conditions specified in the Indenture exists;
 
    F.--In connection with an offer  made by an obligor of  any of the Bonds  to
issue  new  obligations, in  exchange and  substitution for  any issue  of Bonds
pursuant to a plan for the refunding  or refinancing of such Bonds, pursuant  to
the  sole instruction of the Depositor in  writing, reject such offer and either
hold or sell such  Bonds, or accept or  reject such offer or  to take any  other
action with respect thereto as the Depositor may deem proper; and
 
    G.--At the direction of the Depositor, acquire Replacement Bonds, as defined
in the Prospectus, to make up the original corpus of the New Jersey Trust in the
event  of a  failure to  deliver any Bond  that has  been purchased  for the New
Jersey Trust under a  contract, including those Bonds  purchased on a "when,  as
and if issued" basis.
 
    The  Trustee has no  power of sale except  (a) on order  of the Depositor as
stated herein, (b)  to provide  funds, not  otherwise available,  to pay  taxes,
charges,  expenses, fees or  indemnities, (c) in  case of default  on any of the
Bonds, but  only after  notification of  the Depositor,  and provided  that  the
Depositor  has not, within 30 days  of such notification, given any instructions
to sell or to hold, or has not  taken any other action in connection with,  such
Bonds,  or  (d)  for  the  purpose of  redeeming  certificates  tendered  by any
Unitholder. The Trustee has  no power to reinvest,  except as stated in  Section
3.08  of the Indenture. Such limited power  of reinvestment is in furtherance of
the Trustee's obligation to  protect the trust assets,  and does not  constitute
power to vary investments.
 
    The Indenture provides further, among other things, that the Unitholders:
 
    A.--May  tender  their  certificate  or  certificates  to  the  Trustee  for
redemption except in limited circumstances;
 
    B.--Will not have any right to vote  or in any manner otherwise control  the
operation  and management of the Fund, the  New Jersey Trust, or the obligations
of the Depositor or Trustee;
 
    C.--May elect  to receive  distributions  from the  New  Jersey Trust  on  a
monthly or quarterly basis;
 
    D.--May  terminate the New  Jersey Trust at  any time by  written consent of
100% of the Unitholders of the New Jersey Trust; and
 
    E.--Shall be under no liability to any third persons by reason of any action
taken by the Depositor or  Trustee or any other  Unitholder, or any other  cause
whatsoever.
 
    You  have advised that,  in the opinion  of Messrs. Chapman  and Cutler, for
Federal income tax purposes the Fund and New Jersey Trust will not be taxable as
a corporation  or  association  but  will  be  governed  by  the  provisions  of
Subchapter  J (relating to trusts) of Chapter  1 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended. Each  Unitholder will be  considered the owner  of a pro  rata
portion  of  the New  Jersey Trust  and will  be  subject to  tax on  the income
therefrom under the provisions of Subpart E of Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of  the
Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The New Jersey Trust itself will not
be subject to Federal income taxes.  For Federal income tax purposes, each  item
of  trust income will have the same character  in the hands of the Unitholder as
it would have in the hands of  the Trustee. Accordingly, to the extent that  the
income of the New Jersey Trust consists of interest excludable from gross income
under  Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such income
will be excludable from Federal gross income of the Unitholder. Furthermore, any
proceeds paid under the  insurance policy or policies  issued to the Trustee  of
the  Fund  with  respect  to  each Bond  which  represent  maturing  interest on
defaulted obligations held by the Trustee will be excludable from Federal  gross
income  if,  and  to  the same  extent  as,  such interest  would  have  been so
excludable  if  paid  by  the  issuer  of  the  defaulted  obligations  and  the
excludability  from  Federal gross  income  of interest  on  Bonds which  may be
insured by policies issued directly to  the respective Bond issuers will not  be
affected if the source of any interest payment is from policy proceeds.
 
    Based on our examination of the Prior Series Indenture, your advice that the
Indenture  is identical in all material  respects to the Prior Series Indenture,
your advice that the opinion of Messrs.  Chapman and Cutler with respect to  the
Federal  income tax  status of  the Fund, its  constituent State  Trusts and its
Unitholders dated as of the date hereof is identical in all material respects to
its   counterpart    in   the    Prior   Series,    and,   with    respect    to
<PAGE>
Federal  income tax matters, with your approval, relying solely upon the opinion
of Messrs. Chapman  and Cutler,  and our  examination of  such other  documents,
records  and matters of law as we deem necessary, we are of the opinion that for
New Jersey state and local tax purposes:
 
    1.--The New  Jersey  Trust  will  be  recognized  as  a  trust  and  not  an
association  taxable as a corporation. The New  Jersey Trust will not be subject
to the New Jersey Corporation Business Tax or the New Jersey Corporation  Income
Tax.
 
    2.--With  respect to the non-corporate Unitholders  who are residents of New
Jersey, the income  of the  New Jersey  Trust which  is allocable  to each  such
Unitholder will be treated as the income of such Unitholder under the New Jersey
Gross  Income Tax. Interest on  the underlying Bonds which  would be exempt from
New Jersey Gross Income Tax if directly received by such Unitholder will  retain
its  status as  tax-exempt interest  when received by  the New  Jersey Trust and
distributed to such Unitholder. Any proceeds paid under the insurance policy  or
policies  issued to the Trustee  of the Fund with respect  to each Bond or under
individual policies  obtained  by  issuers of  Bonds  which  represent  maturing
interest  on defaulted obligations held  by the Trustee will  be exempt from New
Jersey Gross Income Tax if, and to the same extent as, such interest would  have
been so exempt if paid by the issuer of the defaulted obligations.
 
    3.--A  non-corporate Unitholder will not be  subject to the New Jersey Gross
Income Tax on any gain realized either  when the New Jersey Trust disposes of  a
Bond  (whether by sale, exchange, redemption,  or payment at maturity), when the
Unitholder redeems or sells his Units, or upon payment of any proceeds under the
insurance policy or policies issued to the  Trustee of the Fund with respect  to
each  Bond  or under  individual  policies obtained  by  issuers of  Bonds which
represent maturing principal on defaulted  obligations held by the Trustee.  Any
loss  realized on such disposition may not  be utilized to offset gains realized
by such Unitholder on the disposition of assets the gain on which is subject  to
the New Jersey Gross Income Tax.
 
    4.--Units  of  the  New  Jersey Trust  may  be  taxable on  the  death  of a
Unitholder under the New Jersey Transfer  Inheritance Tax Law or the New  Jersey
Estate Tax Law.
 
    5.--If  a Unitholder is a corporation  subject to the New Jersey Corporation
Business Tax or New  Jersey Corporation Income Tax,  interest from the Bonds  in
the  New Jersey Trust which is allocable  to such corporation will be includable
in its entire net income for purposes of the New Jersey Corporation Business Tax
or New Jersey  Corporation Income  Tax, less  any interest  expense incurred  to
carry  such investment to the extent such interest expense has not been deducted
in computing Federal taxable  income. Net gains derived  by such corporation  on
the  disposition of the Bonds  by the New Jersey Trust  or on the disposition of
its Units will  be included in  its entire net  income for purposes  of the  New
Jersey  Corporation  Business  Tax or  New  Jersey Corporation  Income  Tax. Any
proceeds paid under the  insurance policy or policies  issued to the Trustee  of
the  Fund with  respect to  each Bond or  under individual  policies obtained by
issuers of  Bonds which  represent maturing  interest or  maturing principal  on
defaulted  obligations held by  the Trustee will  be included in  its entire net
income for purposes  of the New  Jersey Corporation Business  Tax or New  Jersey
Corporation  Income Tax if, and to the same extent as, such interest or proceeds
would have been so included if paid by the issuer of the defaulted obligations.
 
    We have not examined any of the obligations to be deposited in the Fund, and
express no opinion as to whether the  interest on any such obligations would  in
fact  be tax-exempt if directly  received by a Unitholder;  nor have we made any
review of the proceedings  relating to the  issuance of Bonds  or the basis  for
bond counsel opinions.
 
    We  hereby  consent to  the  filing of  this opinion  as  an exhibit  to the
Registration Statement and to the  reference to our firm  and a summary of  this
opinion  included  in such  Registration Statement  and the  Prospectus included
therein. In giving  such consent  we do  not thereby admit  that we  are in  the
category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
 
    Except as indicated in the immediately preceding paragraph hereof and except
with  our prior written consent,  this opinion may not be  quoted in whole or in
part or otherwise referred to in any  document or instrument or be furnished  to
or  relied upon by any  person other than the  addressee and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, N.A., as Trustee (including any successor trustee).
 
Very truly yours,
 
Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3.3
 
(ON SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY LETTERHEAD)
 
   
JULY 11, 1996
    
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
 
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
770 Broadway
New York, New York 10003
 
   
RE:  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875
     Ohio Insured Trust 135
    
 
Gentlemen:
 
   
    You  have requested  our opinion as  to the  Ohio tax aspects  of the above-
captioned Trust(s)  (the "Ohio  Trust(s)"),  which is(are)  part of  the  Nuveen
Tax-Free  Unit Trust -- Series 875 (the  "Fund"). We understand that the Fund is
organized under  the  Trust Indenture  and  Agreement, dated  the  date  hereof,
between  John Nuveen &  Co. Incorporated, as Depositor,  and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, N.A., as Trustee. We further understand that (i) the Fund will issue Units
of fractional undivided interests  in several state  trusts, including the  Ohio
Trust(s), (ii) the Units will be purchased by various investors ("Unitholders"),
(iii)  each Unit of the Ohio Trust(s) represents a fractional undivided interest
in the principal and net income of the  Ohio Trust(s) in the ratio of ten  Units
for each $1,000 of principal amount of the obligations initially acquired by the
Ohio  Trust(s), and  (iv) each  state trust will  be administered  as a distinct
entity with separate certificates, investments, expenses, books and records.
    
 
    In addition,  we understand  that (i)  the Ohio  Trust(s) is(are)  comprised
primarily of interest-bearing obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of
Ohio,  political subdivisions thereof, or  agencies or instrumentalities thereof
("Ohio Obligations"), or by the governments of Puerto Rico, the Virgin  Islands,
the  Northern Mariana Islands or Guam ("Territorial Obligations") (collectively,
"Obligations"), (ii) at all times at least fifty percent of the total assets  of
the  Ohio Trust(s) will  consist of Ohio Obligations,  or similar obligations of
other states or their subdivisions, and (iii) distributions of interest received
by the Ohio  Trust(s) will be  made semi-annually unless  the Unitholder  elects
otherwise. We further understand that, based on the opinion of bond counsel with
respect  to each issue of Ohio Obligations held or to be held by the Ohio Trust,
rendered on  the  date of  issuance  thereof, interest  on  each such  issue  is
excluded  from gross income for federal income tax purposes under Section 103(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of  1986, as amended ("Code"), or other  provisions
of  federal  law, provided  that with  respect to  certain Ohio  and Territorial
Obligations, certain  representations are  accurate  and certain  covenants  are
satisfied.
 
    We  understand  that Chapman  and Cutler  has rendered  an opinion  that for
federal income  tax purposes  the Ohio  Trust(s)  will not  be taxable  as  (an)
association(s)  but will be governed by the provisions of subchapter J (relating
to trusts) of  Chapter 1 of  the Code;  each Unitholder will  be considered  the
owner  of a  pro rata  portion of the  Unitholder's respective  Ohio Trust under
Section 676(a) of the  Code; the Ohio  Trust(s) will not  be subject to  federal
income  tax; each Unitholder  will be considered  to have received  his pro rata
share of interest on  the underlying bonds in  the Unitholder's respective  Ohio
Trust  when it is received  by such Ohio Trust; and  each Unitholder will have a
taxable event  when  the  Unitholder's  respective Ohio  Trust  disposes  of  an
underlying  obligation  (whether by  sale, exchange,  redemption, or  payment at
maturity) or when the Unitholder redeems or sells his Units.
 
    Based on the foregoing and upon  an examination of such other documents  and
an  investigation of such other  matters of law as  we have deemed necessary, we
are of the opinion that under existing Ohio law:
 
    1.--The Ohio Trust(s) is(are) not taxable as (a) corporation(s) or otherwise
for purposes of the Ohio personal income tax, Ohio school district income taxes,
the Ohio corporation franchise tax, or the Ohio dealers in intangibles tax.
 
    2.--Income of  the  Ohio Trust(s)  will  be treated  as  the income  of  the
Unitholders  for  purposes of  the Ohio  personal income  tax and  municipal and
school district income taxes in Ohio  and the Ohio corporation franchise tax  in
proportion to the respective interest therein of each Unitholder.
<PAGE>
    3.--Interest  on Obligations  held by the  Ohio Trust(s) is  exempt from the
Ohio personal income  tax, and  municipal and  school district  income taxes  in
Ohio, and is excluded from the net income base of the Ohio corporation franchise
tax when distributed or deemed distributed to Unitholders.
 
    4.--Proceeds  paid under insurance  policies, if any, to  the Trustee of the
Ohio Trust(s) representing  maturing interest on  defaulted obligations held  by
the  Ohio Trust(s)  that is  excluded from gross  income for  federal income tax
purposes will be  exempt from  the Ohio personal  income tax  and municipal  and
school  district  income taxes  in  Ohio and  the net  income  base of  the Ohio
corporation franchise tax.
 
    5.--Gains and losses realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition  by
the Ohio Trust(s) of Ohio Obligations are excluded in determining adjusted gross
and  taxable income for purposes of the  Ohio personal income tax, and municipal
and school district income taxes in Ohio,  and are excluded from the net  income
base   of  the  Ohio  corporation  franchise  tax  when  distributed  or  deemed
distributed to Unitholders.
 
    We have not  examined any of  the obligations  to be deposited  in the  Ohio
Trust(s)  and  express  no  opinion as  to  whether  such  obligations, interest
thereon, or gain from  the sale or  other disposition thereof  would in fact  be
exempt  from any federal  or Ohio taxes  if such obligations  were held, or such
interest or gain were received, directly by the Unitholders.
 
   
    We hereby  consent to  the  filing of  this opinion  as  an exhibit  to  the
Registration  Statement (No. 333-05993) relating to the Units referred to above,
and to  the  reference  to  our  firm  as  special  Ohio  tax  counsel  in  said
Registration Statement and in the Prospectus contained therein.
    
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.3
 
(ON CARTER LEDYARD & MILBURN LETTERHEAD)
 
   
July 11, 1996
    
 
   
Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875
c/o John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated,
as Depositor of Nuveen Tax-Free Unit
Trust, Series 875
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
    
 
   
RE:  Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 875
    
 
Dear Sirs:
 
   
    We  hereby consent to the  reference to our firm  under the caption "What is
the Tax  Status  of Unitholders?"  in  the Registration  Statement  and  related
Prospectus  of Nuveen  Tax-Free Unit Trust,  Series 875 for  the registration of
units of fractional undivided  interest in the Fund  in the aggregate  principal
amount as set forth in the Closing Memorandum dated today's date.
    
 
Very truly yours,
 
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This   schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from  the
Intermediate Insured Trust 86 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated July
11, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER>                     001
<NAME>                        Intermediate Insured
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             4,813,848
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            4,847,423
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        32,267
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    4,887,090
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            32,267
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  32,267
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                50,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      4,847,423
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 96.95
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Colorado
Insured Trust 64 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated July 11, 1996 and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER>                     002
<NAME>                        Colorado Insured
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,261,353
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,285,085
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        37,504
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,327,189
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            37,504
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  37,504
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,285,085
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 93.86
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This  schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Georgia
Insured Trust 52 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated July 11, 1996 and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER>                     003
<NAME>                        Georgia Insured
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,326,832
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,358,693
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        36,667
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,400,560
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            36,667
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  36,667
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,358,693
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 95.96
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This   schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from  the
Massachusetts Insured Trust 138  which is incorporated  in the Prospectus  dated
July   11,  1996  and  is  qualified  in  its  entirety  by  reference  to  such
prospectus.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER>                     004
<NAME>                        Massachusetts Insured
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,285,810
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,311,235
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        35,538
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,351,773
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            35,538
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  35,538
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,311,235
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 94.61
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains summary  financial information  extracted from  the New
Jersey Insured Trust 209 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated July  11,
1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER>                     005
<NAME>                        New Jersey Insured
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,333,478
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,340,905
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        26,757
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,372,362
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            26,757
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  26,757
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,340,905
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 95.45
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This  schedule contains  summary financial  information extracted  from the Ohio
Insured Trust 135 which  is incorporated in the  Prospectus dated July 11,  1996
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER>                     005
<NAME>                        Ohio Insured
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,315,719
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,358,325
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        39,215
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,402,940
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            39,215
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  39,215
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,358,325
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 95.95
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>

<PAGE>
MEMORANDUM
 
   
NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST, SERIES 875
                           FILE NO. 333-05993
    
 
   
    The  Prospectus  and  the  Indenture  filed  with  Amendment  No.  1  of the
Registration Statement  on Form  S-6 have  been revised  to reflect  information
regarding  the execution of the  Indenture and the deposit  of bonds on July 11,
1996, and to  set forth  certain statistical  data based  thereon. In  addition,
there  are a number of other changes  from the Prospectus as originally filed to
which reference is  made, including  the increase  in the  size of  the Fund,  a
corresponding  increase in the  number of Units  and a change  in the individual
trusts constituting the Fund.  All references to the  Units, prices and  related
statistical  data will  apply to each  trust of  the Fund and  the Units thereof
individually.
    
 
    Except for such updating, an effort has been made to set forth below each of
the changes and also to reflect  the same by marking the Prospectus  transmitted
with  the Amendment. Also, differences between  the Final Prospectus relating to
the previous  series  of  the  Nuveen Tax-Exempt  Unit  Trust  and  the  subject
Prospectus have been indicated.
 
FORM S-6
 
FACING SHEET. The file number is now shown.
 
THE PROSPECTUS
 
    PART  A-PAGE  2.--The "Estimated  Long-Term  Return" and  "Estimated Current
Return" to Unitholders under each Trust under each of the distribution plans are
stated.
 
    PART A-PAGES 1 - 2.--Essential information for each of the Trusts, including
applicable footnotes, has been completed for this Series.
 
    PART A-PAGES 1 - 2.--The date of the Indenture has been inserted in  Section
1 along with the size and number of Units of each of the Trusts.
 
    PART A-PAGES 1 - 6 et seq.--The following information for each Trust appears
on the pages relating to such trust:
 
       The  estimated daily accrual of interest  under the plans of distribution
       for each of the Trusts
 
       Data regarding the composition of the portfolio of each Trust
 
       Disclosure  regarding  the  states'  economic  and  legislative   matters
       relevant to investors of state trusts
 
       Concentrations of issues by purpose in each Trust
 
       The  approximate percentage of  the bonds in the  portfolio of each Trust
       acquired  in  distributions  where  the  Sponsor  was  either  the   sole
       underwriter or manager or member of the underwriting syndicate
 
       The percentage of "when issued" bonds in the portfolio of each Trust
 
       The schedule of investments for each Trust, including the notes thereto
 
       Descriptions of the opinions of the special tax counsel for state trusts
 
       The  Record Dates and  Distribution Dates for  interest distributions for
       each Trust
 
       The statements of condition  for each Trust  and the accountant's  report
       with regard thereto.
 
       The amount of the Trustee's Fee
 
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
 
Chicago, Illinois
 
   
July 11, 1996
    


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