NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 783
487, 1995-02-06
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<PAGE>


                                                      File No. 33-57201
                                                      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

A.  Exact name of Trust:     NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 783

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:  Daniel C. Bird, Jr.
                             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 (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

- -----
- -----    60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)

- -----
- -----    on (date) 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.
______
          Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective
  X       on 2/06/95 at 1:30 p.m. pursuant to Rule 487.
______



<PAGE>
   
                                FEBRUARY 6, 1995
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
 
NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
             PROSPECTUS
            Series 783
             February 6, 1995
    
INTEREST  INCOME TO THE  TRUSTS 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.
 
   
THE NUVEEN  TAX-EXEMPT  UNIT  TRUST,  SERIES 783  consists  of  four  underlying
separate  unit  investment trusts  designated as  California Insured  Trust 242,
Florida Insured Trust 205, Michigan Insured Trust 59 and Ohio Insured Trust 122.
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  SCHEDULES OF
INVESTMENTS), the interest on which  is, in the opinion  of bond counsel to  the
issuers,  exempt from  Federal income tax  under existing law.  In addition, the
interest on Bonds in each State Trust is, in the opinion of bond counsel to  the
issuers  of the obligations, exempt from such  State's income taxes, if any. All
obligations in each Traditional Trust are rated in the category "A" or better by
Standard & Poor's Corporation or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. on the Date  of
Deposit.  All  obligations in  each  Insured Trust  are  covered by  policies of
insurance obtained  from  the  Municipal Bond  Investors  Assurance  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  Investors Service, Inc. and the Bonds in
the Insured Trusts and the  Units of each such Trust  have received a rating  of
"AAA"  by Standard & Poor's Corporation. INSURANCE  RELATES ONLY TO THE BONDS IN
THE INSURED TRUSTS AND NOT TO THE UNITS OFFERED HEREBY OR TO THEIR MARKET VALUE.
(See Section 5.)
    
 
THE OBJECTIVES of the Trusts are  tax-exempt income and conservation of  capital
through  a diversified  investment in tax-exempt  Bonds. (SEE SECTIONS  2, 3 AND
11.) 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 the
Trusts' objectives will be achieved. (SEE PAGE A-1.)
 
DISTRIBUTIONS of  interest received  by each  Trust will  be made  semi-annually
unless  the Unitholder elects to receive them monthly or quarterly. (SEE SECTION
13.) 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 PAGE 3  AND
SECTION 9.)
 
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 SECTION 6.) 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  five 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 SECTION 6.)
 
A  UNITHOLDER MAY REDEEM UNITS at the office of the Trustee, United States Trust
Company of New York, 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  SECTION 19.)  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 SECTION  7.)
RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
 
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                                             SECTION         PAGE
<C>   <S>                                              <C>        <C>
      SPECIFIC TRUST MATTERS
      California Insured Trust 242                            3         8-21
      Florida Insured Trust 205                               3        22-30
      Michigan Insured Trust 59                               3        31-39
      Ohio Insured Trust 122                                  3        40-47
      GENERAL MATTERS
      Accrued Interest                                        8         A-17
      Accumulation Plan                                      14         A-25
      Bonds, How Selected                                     3            7
      Bonds, Initial Determination of Offering Price         10         A-19
      Bonds, Limited Right of Substitution                    4          A-7
      Bond Ratings                                            3         8-47
      Bonds, Removal from Trust                              21         A-34
      Call Provisions of Portfolio Bonds                   3, 4     8-47,A-8
      Capital Gains Taxability                               11         A-19
      Dealer Discount                                        17         A-29
      Description of Units of Trust                           1            5
      Distributions to Unitholders                           13         A-23
      Distribution Payment Dates                          3, 13   8-47, A-23
      Distribution of Units to the Public                    17         A-29
      Essential Information Regarding the Trusts             --            4
      Estimated Long Term Return and Estimated Current
      Return                                                  9      3, A-18
      Evaluation                                             16         A-28
      Expenses to Fund                                       12         A-22
      Insurance on Bonds in the Insured Trusts                5         A-10
      Insurance on Certain Bonds in the Traditional
      Trusts                                                  5         A-12
      Interest Income to Trust                                3         8-47
      Investments, Schedules of                               3         8-47
      Legality of Units                                      24         A-37
      Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee       22        A-34
      Market for Units                                        7         A-16
      Minimum Transaction                                    17         A-29
      Objectives of the Trusts                                2            6
      Optional Distribution Plan                             13         A-23
      Other Information                                      24         A-37
      Ownership and Transfer of Units                        18         A-30
      Public Offering Price of Units                          6         A-13
      Quantity Purchases                                      6         A-13
      Record Dates                                           13         A-23
      Ratings, Description of                                24         A-39
      Redemption of Units by Trustee                         19         A-31
      Reports to Unitholders                                 15         A-28
      Repurchase of Units by Sponsor                         20         A-33
      Risk Factors                                            3          A-1
      Sales Charge                                            6         A-13
      Sponsor, Information About                             23         A-35
      State Tax Status                                        3         8-47
      Successor Trustees and Sponsors                        22         A-34
      Tax Status of Unitholders                              11         A-19
      Trustee, Information About                             22         A-34
      Trust Indenture, Amendment and Termination             24         A-37
      Unit Value                                             16         A-28
</TABLE>
 
                  2
<PAGE>
                          ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS
                                      AND
                    ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS FOR THE TRUSTS
 
Following  are the  Estimated Long Term  and Estimated Current  Returns for each
Trust on the  business day  prior to  the Date  of Deposit,  under the  monthly,
quarterly and semi-annual plans of distribution (SEE SECTION 3):
 
                          ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------
                    TRUST                       MONTHLY      QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
  <S>                                           <C>          <C>            <C>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  California Insured Trust 242.............      5.79%         5.82%           5.84%
  Florida Insured Trust 205................      5.72%         5.75%           5.77%
  Michigan Insured Trust 59................      5.76%         5.79%           5.81%
  Ohio Insured Trust 122...................      5.74%         5.77%           5.79%
</TABLE>
 
                           ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------
                    TRUST                       MONTHLY      QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
  <S>                                           <C>          <C>            <C>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  California Insured Trust 242.............      5.67%         5.70%           5.72%
  Florida Insured Trust 205................      5.64%         5.67%           5.69%
  Michigan Insured Trust 59................      5.76%         5.79%           5.81%
  Ohio Insured Trust 122...................      5.66%         5.69%           5.71%
</TABLE>
 
    The  Estimated Long Term Return for each Trust is a measure of the return to
the investor 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 to
a  specified date of any premium over  or discount from the par (maturity) value
in the bond's  purchase price. In  calculating 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. Once the average portfolio yield is  computed,
this  figure is then reduced to reflect estimated expenses and the effect of the
maximum sales  charge paid  by investors.  The Estimated  Long Term  Return  and
Estimated  Current Return calculations do 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 Trust
may experience expenses and  portfolio changes different  from those assumed  in
the  calculation of Estimated Long  Term Return. There thus  can be no assurance
that the Estimated  Current Returns or  the Estimated Long  Term Returns  quoted
herein will be realized in the future. 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. For more  information,
see Section 9. 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.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
   
                 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRUSTS ON
                               FEBRUARY 3, 1995+
    
           Sponsor and Evaluator...... John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
           Trustee........... United States Trust Company of New York
                  -------------------------------------------
 
The  income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been calculated
for  Unitholders   receiving   MONTHLY   distributions.   Unitholders   choosing
distributions  quarterly or  semi-annually will receive  slightly higher returns
because of the lower Trustee's fees and expenses under such plans. (SEE  SECTION
3 FOR DATA RELATING TO THESE PLANS.)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        CALIFORNIA            FLORIDA            MICHIGAN              OHIO
                                                          INSURED             INSURED             INSURED             INSURED
                                                         TRUST 242           TRUST 205           TRUST 59            TRUST 122
<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                                      ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $    3,500,000      $    3,500,000      $    3,500,000      $    3,500,000
Number of Units.....................................          35,000              35,000              35,000              35,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....        1/35,000            1/35,000            1/35,000            1/35,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $    3,238,966      $    3,296,522      $    3,372,440      $    3,324,325
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $        92.54      $        94.19      $        96.36      $        94.98
    Plus Sales Charge*..............................  $         4.77      $         4.85      $         4.96      $         4.89
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $        97.31      $        99.04      $       101.32      $        99.87
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $        92.04      $        93.69      $        95.90      $        94.50
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $        92.54      $        94.19      $        96.36      $        94.98
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $         5.27      $         5.35      $         5.42      $         5.37
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $         4.77      $         4.85      $         4.96      $         4.89
Calculation of Estimated Net Annual Interest Income
  Per Unit
    Annual Interest Income(2).......................  $       5.7553      $       5.8209      $       6.0607      $       5.8786
    Less Estimated Annual Expense...................  $        .2370      $        .2336      $        .2280      $        .2264
                                                      ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Estimated Net Annual Interest Income(3).........  $       5.5183      $       5.5873      $       5.8327      $       5.6522
Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit......................  $       .01532      $       .01552      $       .01620      $       .01570
Estimated Current Return(4).........................           5.67%               5.64%               5.76%               5.66%
Estimated Long Term Return(4).......................           5.79%               5.72%               5.76%               5.74%
 
<FN>
- ----------
Evaluations  for purpose of sale,  purchase or redemption of  Units are made as of  4 p.m. Eastern time  on the business day next
following receipt of an order by the Sponsor or Trustee. (See Section 6.)
 + The business day prior to the Date of Deposit.
 * National and State, 5.152%;  Long Intermediate, 4.439%; Intermediate, 4.058%;  Short Intermediate, 3.093%; Short Term,  2.564%
   (4.9%, 4.25%, 3.9%, 3.0% and 2.5% of the Public Offering Prices, respectively.)
(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 five 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 Trusts  and, accordingly, for  Units purchased on  the Date of
    Deposit, the following  amounts of accrued  interest to  the Settlement Date  will be  added to the  Public Offering  Prices:
    California  Insured Trust--$.11, Florida Insured Trust--$.11, Michigan Insured Trust--$.11 and Ohio Insured Trust--$.11. (See
    Section 8.)
(2) Assumes delivery of  all Bonds. (See Section  4.) Interest income does  not include accretion of  original issue discount  on
    "zero coupon" Bonds, Stripped Obligations or other original issue discount Bonds. (See "General Trust Information" in Section
    3.)
(3)  The amount and timing of interest distributions from each Trust under the various plans of distribution are shown in Section
    3.
(4) Estimated Long Term Return  for each 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 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 page 3 and Section 9.
</TABLE>
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                   ESSENTIAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRUSTS
                                  (CONTINUED)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>
Record Dates............................................................See Section 13
Distribution Dates......................................................See Section 13
Minimum Principal Distribution..........................................$0.10 Per Unit
Date Trusts Established...............................................February 6, 1995
Settlement Date......................................................February 13, 1995
Mandatory Termination Date..............................................See Section 24
Minimum Value of Each Trust.............................................See Section 24
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.............$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Trustee's Annual Fees:
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------------
                    TRUST                         MONTHLY         QUARTERLY       SEMI-ANNUAL
  -----------------------------------------     ------------     ------------     ------------
  <S>                                           <C>              <C>              <C>
  California Insured Trust 242.............          $1.7393          $1.4193         $1.2293
  Florida Insured Trust 205................           1.7057           1.3857          1.1957
  Michigan Insured Trust 59................           1.6488           1.3288          1.1388
  Ohio Insured Trust 122...................           1.6329           1.3129          1.1229
  ------------
  *  Each Trustee 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.
</TABLE>
 
CUSIP Numbers:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    TRUST                         MONTHLY         QUARTERLY       SEMI-ANNUAL
  -----------------------------------------     ------------     ------------     ------------
  <S>                                           <C>              <C>              <C>
  California Insured Trust 242.............       67064U 733       67064U 741      67064U 758
  Florida Insured Trust 205................       6706H3 739       6706H3 747      6706H3 754
  Michigan Insured Trust 59................       67095E 286       67095E 294      67095E 302
  Ohio Insured Trust 122...................       67101Y 615       67101Y 623      67101Y 631
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
   
SERIES 783
    
 
   
1.  WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 783?
    
 
   
Series 783 of the 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. This Series consists of four underlying
separate  unit  investment  trusts,  combined  under  one  trust  indenture  and
agreement,  designated California Insured Trust  242, Florida Insured Trust 205,
Michigan Insured Trust  59 and Ohio  Insured Trust 122.  The various 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."  THERE
ARE NO TRADITIONAL TRUSTS IN THIS SERIES. This Series was created under the laws
of   the   State   of   New   York   pursuant   to   a   Trust   Indenture   and
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
   
Agreement dated February  6, 1995 (the  "Indenture") between John  Nuveen &  Co.
Incorporated  (the "Sponsor") and  United States Trust Company  of New York (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) in the  principal amount of  $14,000,000 (the "Bonds"),
which initially constitute the  underlying securities of  the Trusts. Bonds  may
include  fixed rate obligations with regularly scheduled interest payments, zero
coupon bonds and  stripped obligations, which  represent evidences of  ownership
interests with respect to either a principal payment or a payment of interest on
a  tax-exempt obligation  ("Stripped Obligations"). See  "SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS"
and "GENERAL  TRUST INFORMATION"  for  a discussion  of  zero coupon  bonds  and
Stripped  Obligations. The  following principal  amounts were  deposited in each
Trust: $3,500,000 in  the California  Insured Trust, $3,500,000  in the  Florida
Insured  Trust, $3,500,000 in  the Michigan Insured Trust  and $3,500,000 in the
Ohio Insured Trust. 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 "Schedules  of
Investments" and Section 4. 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
Section 4.
    
 
    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 Section  5.) 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 for 35,000 Units
of the California  Insured Trust,  35,000 Units  of the  Florida Insured  Trust,
35,000  Units of the Michigan Insured Trust and 35,000 Units of the Ohio Insured
Trust, which together represent  ownership of the entire  Series, 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  of 10  Units  for each  $1,000  principal value  of  Bonds initially
deposited in such Trust.
    
 
2.  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. Bonds in any State Trust have been issued
primarily by  or on  behalf of  the  State for  which such  Trust is  named  and
counties,  municipalities, authorities  and political  subdivisions thereof, the
interest on which Bonds is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from  Federal
and  certain state income tax and intangibles  taxes, if any, for purchasers who
qualify as residents of that  State. 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 Municipal Bond
Investors  Assurance  Corporation,  and  as  a  result  of  such  insurance  the
obligations  in the Insured Trusts are rated "Aaa" by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. and "AAA" by Standard &
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
Poor's Corporation. (SEE SECTION  5) 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 Corporation or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (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. (SEE  SECTION 3.) The portfolios  of National and State
Trusts  consist  of   long-term  (approximately  15   to  40  year   maturities)
obligations;  those of Long Intermediate Trusts  consist of intermediate to long
term (approximately 11 to 19 year maturities) obligations; those of Intermediate
Trusts consist  of intermediate  term (approximately  5 to  15 year  maturities)
obligations; those of Short Intermediate Trusts consist of short to intermediate
term (approximately 3 to 7 year maturities) obligations; and those of Short Term
Trusts consist of short term (approximately 1 to 5 year maturities) obligations.
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  this
Prospectus.
 
    Each Trust consists  of fixed-rate  municipal debt  obligations. Because  of
this  an investment in a Trust should be made with an understanding of the risks
which an investment in such debt obligations may entail, including the risk that
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. During the past decade, there have been substantial fluctuations
in  interest  rates, and,  accordingly, in  the value  of debt  obligations. The
Sponsor cannot predict whether such fluctuations will recur.
 
3.  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 Section  2
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 Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation insurance on such
Bonds.
 
    In  order for Bonds in the Insured  Trusts to be eligible for Municipal Bond
Investors Assurance Corporation insurance, they must have credit characteristics
which, in the opinion of the  insurer, would qualify them as "investment  grade"
obligations.  Insurance is not a  substitute for the basic  credit of an issuer,
but supplements the existing credit  and provides additional security  therefor.
(SEE SECTION 5.)
 
    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. Under the Indenture,  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.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
   
CALIFORNIA INSURED TRUST 242
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio of  California Insured  Trust 242  consists of  7 obligations
issued by entities located in California and one obligation issued by an  entity
located  in the  Territory of Puerto  Rico. Two  Bonds in the  Trust are general
obligations of the  governmental entities  issuing them  and are  backed by  the
taxing  powers thereof. Six Bonds  in the Trust 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 these
Bonds are  divided as  follows: Electrical  System Revenue,  3; Municipal  Lease
Revenue,  2; Water and/or  Sewer Revenue, 1. All  of the Bonds  in the Trust, as
insured, are  rated AAA  by Standard  & Poor's  Corporation and  Aaa by  Moody's
Investors Service, Inc.
    
 
   
    At  the Date of Deposit, the average maturity of the Bonds in the California
Insured Trust is 26.2  years. The average  maturity of the Bonds  in a Trust  is
calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such 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 the Bonds in a Trust may  increase or decrease from time to time  as
Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
   
    Approximately  10.6% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 9.8% of the aggregate offering price of  the
Bonds)    are   original    issue   discount    bonds.   See    "GENERAL   TRUST
INFORMATION--ORIGINAL ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS  AND STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for  a
discussion  of the  characteristics of  such bonds  and of  the risks associated
therewith.
    
 
    Approximately 29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust  consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily derived
from the sale of electric energy.
 
    Approximately 29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust consists of municipal lease obligations.
 
    For  a discussion of the  risks associated with investments  in the bonds of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds between February  2,
1995  and February 3,  1995. The following  summarizes certain information about
the Bonds as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,212,657       $26,309           $201,435      $3,221,466                 .50%
</TABLE>
 
    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.  An  underwriter  or   underwriting
syndicate  purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive bid
basis as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at  a
profit.  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.
 
   
    Unitholders  may elect  to have  interest distributions  made on  a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the California Insured Trust, less estimated expenses, is estimated to accrue at
the rate of $.01547 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01541 per Unit per day under the
    
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
   
quarterly plan of distribution  and $.01532 per Unit  per day under the  monthly
plan  of  distribution. 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.
    
 
    Details  of interest distributions per Unit  of the California Insured 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
CALIFORNIA INSURED TRUST                                          1995                               PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        3/1            5/1            8/1           11/1
Distribution Date.....................       3/15           5/15           8/15          11/15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .3830(1)                                              $  5.5183
                                                        --------  $.4596 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .3830(1)   $   .9246(2)   $  1.3869      $  1.3869    $  5.5503
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .3830(1)   $   .9282(3)                  $  2.7846    $  5.5693
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 *  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.
(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)  The  second distribution  under the  quarterly distribution  plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3) The second distribution  under the semi-annual  distribution plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent  semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
    The  accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn 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.
 
TAX STATUS--CALIFORNIA INSURED TRUST
 
    For  a discussion of the  Federal tax status of  income earned on California
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    In the opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, special California counsel
to the Series, under existing California income and property tax law  applicable
to individuals who are California residents:
 
        The  California  Insured  Trust  is  not  an  association  taxable  as a
    corporation and the income of the  California Insured Trust will be  treated
    as the income of the Unitholders under the income tax laws of California.
 
        Interest  on the underlying securities (which may include bonds or other
    obligations issued by the  governments of Puerto  Rico, the Virgin  Islands,
    Guam  or  the  Northern Mariana  Islands)  which  is exempt  from  tax under
    California personal income tax  and property tax laws  when received by  the
    California  Insured  Trust  will,  under such  laws,  retain  its  status as
    tax-exempt interest when  distributed to Unitholders.  However, interest  on
    the  underlying securities attributed to a Unitholder which is a corporation
    subject to the California franchise tax laws may be includable in its  gross
    income for purposes of determining its California franchise tax.
 
        Under  California  income tax  law,  each Unitholder  in  the California
    Insured Trust will have  a taxable event when  the California Insured  Trust
    disposes  of a security (whether by sale, exchange, redemption or payment at
    maturity) or when  the Unitholder  redeems or  sells Units.  Because of  the
    requirement that tax cost basis be
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    reduced  to reflect amortization of bond premium, under some circumstances a
    Unitholder may realize taxable gain when  Units are sold or redeemed for  an
    amount  equal to, or less  than, their original cost.  The total tax cost of
    each Unit to a Unitholder is allocated among each of the bond issues held in
    the California  Insured Trust  (in  accordance with  the proportion  of  the
    California Insured Trust comprised by each bond issue) in order to determine
    his  per  unit tax  cost for  each bond  issue; and  the tax  cost reduction
    requirements relating to amortization of bond premium will apply  separately
    to  the per unit cost of each bond issue. Unitholders' bases in their Units,
    and the bases for their fractional interest in each California Insured Trust
    asset, may have to be adjusted for their pro rata share of accrued  interest
    received,  if any, on securities delivered after the Unitholders' respective
    settlement dates.
 
        Under the California  personal property tax  laws, bonds (including  the
    bonds  in  the  California  Insured  Trust  as  well  as  "regular-way"  and
    "when-issued" contracts for the purchase  of bonds) or any interest  therein
    is exempt from such tax.
 
        Any  proceeds paid under  the insurance policy issued  to the Trustee of
    the fund with respect to the bonds  in the California Insured Trust as  well
    as "regular-way" and "when-issued" contracts for the purchase of bonds which
    represent  maturing interest  on defaulted  obligations held  by the Trustee
    will be  exempt from  California personal  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.
 
        Under Section 17280(b)(2) of the  California Revenue and Taxation  Code,
    interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry Units of
    the  California  Insured Trust  is not  deductible for  the purposes  of the
    California personal  income  tax. While  there  presently is  no  California
    authority  interpreting  this  provision,  Section  17280(b)(2)  directs the
    California Franchise  Tax Board  to  prescribe regulations  determining  the
    proper  allocation and apportionment of interest costs for this purpose. The
    Franchise Tax Board has not yet proposed or prescribed such regulations.  In
    interpreting  the generally similar Federal  provision, the Internal Revenue
    Service has taken the position that  such indebtedness need not be  directly
    traceable to the purchase or carrying of Units (although the Service has not
    contended that a deduction for interest on indebtedness incurred to purchase
    or  improve  a  personal residence  or  to  purchase goods  or  services for
    personal consumption  will be  disallowed). In  the absence  of  conflicting
    regulations  or  other California  authority,  the California  Franchise Tax
    Board generally  has  interpreted  California statutory  tax  provisions  in
    accord  with  Internal Revenue  Service  interpretations of  similar Federal
    provisions.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--CALIFORNIA
 
    As described  above, except  to the  extent the  Fund invests  in  temporary
investments,  the Fund will invest substantially all of its assets in California
Municipal Obligations. The Fund is therefore susceptible to political,  economic
or  regulatory factors  affecting issuers  of California  Municipal Obligations.
These include the possible adverse effects of certain California  constitutional
amendments,  legislative measures, voter initiatives  and other matters that are
described below. The following information provides only a brief summary of  the
complex  factors affecting the  financial situation in  California (the "State")
and is derived from  sources that are generally  available to investors and  are
believed  to  be accurate.  No  independent verification  has  been made  of the
accuracy or completeness  of any of  the following information.  It is based  in
part on information obtained from various State and
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
local  agencies in  California or contained  in Official  Statements for various
California Municipal Obligations.
 
    There can  be  no  assurance  that future  statewide  or  regional  economic
difficulties,  and the resulting impact on  State or local governmental finances
generally, will not adversely  affect the market  value of California  Municipal
Obligations  held in  the portfolio  of the  Fund or  the ability  of particular
obligors to  make timely  payments of  debt service  on (or  relating to)  those
obligations.
 
ECONOMIC OVERVIEW
 
    California's  economy is  the largest  among the  50 states  and one  of the
largest in the  world. The State's  population of almost  32 million  represents
12.3%  of the total United States population and grew by 27% in the 1980s. While
the State's  substantial population  growth during  the 1980s  stimulated  local
economic  growth and  diversification and sustained  a real  estate boom between
1984 and 1990, it has increased  strains on the State's limited water  resources
and  its infrastructure.  Resultant traffic congestion,  school overcrowding and
high housing costs have increased demands for government services and may impede
future economic growth. Population growth has slowed between 1991 and 1993  even
while  substantial immigration has  continued, due to  a significant increase in
outmigration by California  residents. Generally, the  household incomes of  new
residents  have been substantially lower (and their education and social service
utilization higher) than those of departing  households, which may have a  major
long-term  socioeconomic and fiscal impact. However, with the California economy
improving, the recent net outmigration  within the Continental U.S. is  expected
to decrease or be reversed.
 
    From mid-1990 to late 1993, the State's economy suffered its worst recession
since  the 1930s, with recovery  starting later than for  the nation as a whole.
The State  has experienced  the  worst job  losses  of any  post-war  recession.
Prerecession  job levels may not  be realized until near  the end of the decade.
The largest job losses have been in Southern California, led by declines in  the
aerospace   and   construction  industries.   Weakness  statewide   occurred  in
manufacturing,  construction,  services  and  trade.  Additional  military  base
closures  will have further adverse effects on  the State's economy later in the
decade.
 
    Since the start of  1994, the California economy  has shown signs of  steady
recovery  and growth.  The State Department  of Finance reports  net job growth,
particularly in  construction and  related manufacturing,  wholesale and  retail
trade,  transportation,  recreation and  services.  This growth  has  offset the
continuing but slowing job losses in the aerospace industry and restructuring of
the  finance  and  utility   sectors.  Unemployment  in   the  State  was   down
substantially  in 1994  from its  10% peak in  January, 1994,  but still remains
higher than the  national average rate.  Retail sales were  up strongly in  1994
from  year-earlier figures. Delay or slowdown  in recovery will adversely affect
State revenues.
 
CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TAXES AND APPROPRIATIONS
 
    LIMITATION  ON  TAXES.  Certain  California  municipal  obligations  may  be
obligations  of issuers which rely in whole  or in part, directly or indirectly,
on AD  VALOREM property  taxes as  a source  of revenue.  The taxing  powers  of
California  local governments and districts are  limited by Article XIIIA of the
California Constitution, enacted  by the voters  in 1978 and  commonly known  as
"Proposition  13." Briefly, Article  XIIIA limits to  1% of full  cash value the
rate of AD VALOREM property taxes  on real property and generally restricts  the
reassessment of property to the rate of inflation, not to exceed 2% per year, or
decline  in value,  or in the  case of  new construction or  change of ownership
(subject to a number of exemptions).
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
Taxing entities may, however, raise AD VALOREM  taxes above the 1% limit to  pay
debt service on voter-approved bonded indebtedness.
 
    Under Article XIIIA, the basic 1% AD VALOREM tax levy is applied against the
assessed value of property as of the owner's date of acquisition (or as of March
1,  1975, if acquired earlier), subject  to certain adjustments. This system has
resulted in  widely varying  amounts of  tax on  similarly situated  properties.
Several  lawsuits have  been filed challenging  the acquisition-based assessment
system of Proposition 13 and on June 18, 1992 the U.S. Supreme Court announced a
decision upholding Proposition 13.
 
    Article XIIIA prohibits local governments  from raising revenues through  AD
VALOREM  property  taxes above  the 1%  limit;  it also  requires voters  of any
governmental unit to give two-thirds approval  to levy any "special tax."  Court
decisions,  however, allowed  non-voter approved  levy of  "general taxes" which
were not dedicated to a specific use. In response to these decisions, the voters
of the State in 1986 adopted an initiative statute which imposed significant new
limits on the ability of local entities  to raise or levy general taxes,  except
by  receiving  majority  local  voter  approval.  Significant  elements  of this
initiative, "Proposition 62,"  have been  overturned in recent  court cases.  An
initiative   proposed  to  re-enact  the  provisions  of  Proposition  62  as  a
constitutional amendment was defeated by the voters in November 1990, but such a
proposal may be renewed in the future.
 
    APPROPRIATIONS LIMITS. California and its  local governments are subject  to
an  annual "appropriations  limit" imposed  by Article  XIIIB of  the California
Constitution, enacted  by  the  voters  in 1979  and  significantly  amended  by
Propositions  98 and 111 in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Article XIIIB prohibits
the State or any covered local government from spending "appropriations  subject
to  limitation" in excess  of the appropriations  limit imposed. "Appropriations
subject to limitation" are  authorizations to spend  "proceeds of taxes,"  which
consists  of  tax  revenues and  certain  other funds,  including  proceeds from
regulatory licenses,  user  charges or  other  fees,  to the  extent  that  such
proceeds  exceed the cost of providing the  product or service, but "proceeds of
taxes" excludes most State subventions to local governments. No limit is imposed
on appropriations of funds which are not "proceeds of taxes," such as reasonable
user charges or fees, and certain other non-tax funds, including bond proceeds.
 
    Among the  expenditures not  included in  the Article  XIIIB  appropriations
limit  are (1)  the debt  service cost  of bonds  issued or  authorized prior to
January 1, 1979, or  subsequently authorized by  the voters, (2)  appropriations
arising  from certain emergencies  declared by the  Governor, (3) appropriations
for qualified  capital  outlay projects,  (4)  appropriations by  the  State  of
post-1989  increases  in  gasoline  taxes  and  vehicle  weight  fees,  and  (5)
appropriations made in certain cases of emergency.
 
    The appropriations  limit for  each  year is  adjusted annually  to  reflect
changes  in  cost  of  living  and  population,  and  any  transfers  of service
responsibilities between government units. The definitions for such  adjustments
were liberalized in 1990 to follow more closely growth in California's economy.
 
    "Excess"  revenues are now  measured over a two-year  cycle. With respect to
local governments, excess revenues must be  returned by a revision of tax  rates
or  fee schedules  within the  two subsequent  fiscal years.  The appropriations
limit for  a local  government may  be overridden  by referendum  under  certain
conditions for up to four years at a time. With respect to the State, 50% of any
excess  revenues is  to be  distributed to  K-12 school  districts and community
college districts (collectively, "K-14  districts") and the other  50% is to  be
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
refunded  to taxpayers. With more liberal  annual adjustment factors since 1988,
and depressed revenues  since 1990  because of the  recession, few  governments,
including  the State,  are currently operating  near their  spending limits, but
this condition may  change over time.  Local governments may  by voter  approval
exceed their spending limits for up to four years.
 
    Because  of the complex nature of Articles XIIIA and XIIIB of the California
Constitution, the ambiguities and possible  inconsistencies in their terms,  and
the  impossibility of predicting future  appropriations or changes in population
and cost of living,  and the probability of  continuing legal challenges, it  is
not currently possible to determine fully the impact of Article XIIIA or Article
XIIIB  on California  Municipal Obligations or  on the ability  of California or
local governments to pay debt service on such California Municipal  Obligations.
It  is not presently possible  to predict the outcome  of any pending litigation
with respect  to  the ultimate  scope,  impact or  constitutionality  of  either
Article  XIIIA or Article XIIIB,  or the impact of  any such determinations upon
State agencies or local governments, or  upon their ability to pay debt  service
on  their obligations. Future initiatives or  legislative changes in laws or the
California Constitution  may also  affect  the ability  of  the State  or  local
issuers to repay their obligations.
 
    OBLIGATIONS  OF THE STATE OF  CALIFORNIA. Under the California Constitution,
debt service on outstanding general obligation bonds is the second charge to the
General Fund after support of the  public school system and public  institutions
of  higher  education.  Total  outstanding  general  obligation  bond  and lease
purchase debt of the State increased from $9.4 billion at June 30, 1987 to $23.5
billion at June 30, 1994. In FY1993-94, debt service on general obligation bonds
and lease purchase debt was approximately 5.2% of General Fund revenues.
 
    RECENT FINANCIAL RESULTS. The principal sources of General Fund revenues  in
1992-93  were the  California personal income  tax (44% of  total revenues), the
sales tax (38%), bank and corporation taxes (12%), and the gross premium tax  on
insurance  (3%). California maintains a  Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties
(the "Economic Uncertainties Fund"),  derived from General  Fund revenues, as  a
reserve to meet cash needs of the General Fund.
 
    GENERAL.  Throughout  the 1980's,  State spending  increased rapidly  as the
State population and economy also grew rapidly, including increased spending for
many assistance  programs  to  local  governments,  which  were  constrained  by
Proposition  13 and other laws. The largest State program is assistance to local
public school districts.  In 1988,  an initiative (Proposition  98) was  enacted
which  (subject to suspension  by a two-thirds  vote of the  Legislature and the
Governor) guarantees local  school districts and  community college districts  a
minimum share of State General Fund revenues (currently about 33%).
 
    Since  the  start  of  1990-91  Fiscal Year,  the  State  has  faced adverse
economic, fiscal,  and  budget  conditions.  The  economic  recession  seriously
affected  State tax revenues.  It also caused  increased expenditures for health
and welfare programs.  The State is  also facing a  structural imbalance in  its
budget  with  the largest  programs supported  by  the General  Fund (education,
health, welfare and corrections) growing at  rates higher than the growth  rates
for the principal revenue sources of the General Fund. These structured concerns
will  be  exacerbated in  coming  years by  the  expected need  to substantially
increase capital and  operating funds for  corrections as a  result of a  "Three
Strikes"  law enacted in 1994. As a result, the State entered a period of budget
imbalance, with  expenditures exceeding  revenues for  four of  the five  fiscal
years ending in 1991-92; revenues and expenditures were
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
about  equal  in 1992-93.  By June  30, 1993,  the State's  General Fund  had an
accumulated deficit, on a budget basis, of approximately $2.8 billion.
 
    RECENT BUDGETS. The  state failed  to enact its  1992-93 budget  by July  1,
1992.  Although the  State had no  legal authority  to pay many  of its vendors,
certain obligations  (such  as  debt  service,  school  apportionments,  welfare
payments,  and employee salaries) were payable  because of continuing or special
appropriations, or  court orders.  However, the  State Controller  did not  have
enough cash to pay as they came due all of these ongoing obligations, as well as
valid obligations incurred in the prior fiscal year.
 
    Starting  on July 1, 1992, the  Controller was required to issue "registered
warrants" in  lieu  of  normal  warrants  backed  by  cash  to  pay  many  State
obligations.  Available  cash  was  used to  pay  constitutionally  mandated and
priority obligations.  Between July  1  and September  3, 1992,  the  Controller
issued  an aggregate of approximately $3.8 billion of registered warrants all of
which were called for redemption by September 4, 1992 following enactment of the
1992-93 Budget Act and issuance by the State of short-term notes.
 
    The 1992-93 Budget Act, when finally adopted, was projected to eliminate the
State's accumulated deficit, with additional expenditure cuts and a $1.3 billion
transfer of State education funding costs to local governments by shifting local
property taxes to school districts.  However, as the recession continued  longer
and  deeper than expected,  revenues once again were  far below projections, and
only reached a level just equal to  the amount of expenditures. Thus, the  State
continued to carry its $2.8 billion budget deficit at June 30, 1993.
 
    The  1993-94 Budget  Act represented a  third consecutive  year of difficult
budget choices. As in the prior year, the budget contained no general state  tax
increases,  and relied principally on  expenditure cuts, particularly for health
and welfare and  higher education,  a two-year  suspension of  the renters'  tax
credit,  some one-time and accounting adjustments,  and -- the largest component
- -- an additional $2.6 billion transfer of property taxes from local  government,
particularly  counties, to  school districts  to reduce  State education funding
requirements. A temporary state sales tax  scheduled to expire on June 30,  1993
was  extended for six  months, and dedicated to  support local government public
safety costs.
 
    A major  feature  of  the  budget  was a  two-year  plan  to  eliminate  the
accumulated  deficit  by  borrowing  into  the  1994-95  fiscal  year.  With the
recession still  continuing longer  than  expected, the  General Fund  had  $800
million  less revenue and  $800 million higher expenditures  than budgeted. As a
result revenues only exceed  expenditures by about  $500 million. However,  this
was  the  first operating  surplus  in four  years  and reduced  the accumulated
deficit to $2.0 billion at June 30, 1994 (after taking account of certain  other
accounting reserves).
 
    CURRENT  BUDGET. The  1994-95 Budget  Act was  passed on  July 8,  1994, and
provides for an  estimated $41.9  billion of  General Fund  revenues, and  $40.9
billion of expenditures. The budget assumed receipt of about $750 million of new
federal assistance for the costs of incarceration, education, health and welfare
related to undocumented immigrants. Other major components of the budget include
further  reductions  in health  and welfare  costs and  miscellaneous government
costs, some additional transfers of funds  from local government, and a plan  to
defer  retirement of $1 billion of the accumulated budget deficit to the 1995-96
fiscal year. The federal government has apparently budgeted only $33 million  of
the  expected immigration aid. However, this  shortfall is expected to be almost
fully offset  by  higher  than  projected revenues,  and  lower  than  projected
caseload growth, as the economy improves.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
   
    The  State issued $7.0 billion of short-term  debt in July, 1994 to meet its
cash flow needs and to  finance the deferral of  part of the accumulated  budget
deficit  to the  1995-96 fiscal  year. In  order to  assure repayment  of the $4
billion, 22-month part  of this  borrowing, the State  enacted legislation  (the
"Trigger  Law") which  can lead to  automatic, across-the-board  cuts in General
Fund expenditures in  either the 1994-95  or 1995-96 fiscal  years if cash  flow
projections made at certain times during those years show deterioration from the
projections  made in July  1994 when the  borrowings were made.  On November 15,
1994, the State Controller  as part of  the Trigger Law  reported that the  cash
position of the General Fund on June 30, 1995 would be about $580 million better
than  earlier projected,  so no  automatic budget  adjustments were  required in
1994-95. The Controller's report showed that loss of federal funds was offset by
higher revenues,  lower  expenditures,  and  certain  other  increases  in  cash
resources.
    
 
   
    PROPOSED  1995-96 BUDGET.__On January  10, 1995, the  Governor presented his
proposed FY 1995-96 Budget. This budget projects total General Fund revenues and
transfers of $42.5 billion, and expenditures  of $41.7 billion, to complete  the
elimination  of  the  accumulated  deficits from  earlier  years.  However, this
proposal leaves no  cushion, as the  projected budget reserve  at June 30,  1996
would  be  only about  $92  million. While  proposing  increases in  funding for
schools, universities and  corrections, the  Governor proposes  further cuts  in
welfare  programs, and  a continuation  of the  "realignment" of  functions with
counties which  would save  the  State about  $240  million. The  Governor  also
expects  about  $800  million  in  new federal  aid  for  the  State's  costs of
incarcerating and educating  illegal immigrants. The  Budget proposal also  does
not  account for  possible additional  costs if the  State loses  its appeals on
lawsuits which are currently pending  concerning such matters as school  funding
and  pension payments,  but these appeals  could take several  years to resolve.
Part of  the Governor's  proposal  also is  a 15%  cut  in personal  income  and
corporate  taxes, to be phased in over  three years, starting with calendar year
1996 (which would have only a small impact on 1995-96 income).
    
    The State's  difficult  financial condition  for  the current  and  upcoming
budget   years  will  result  in  continued   pressure  upon  almost  all  local
governments, particularly school  districts and counties  which depend on  State
aid.  Despite efforts in recent years  to increase taxes and reduce governmental
expenditures, there can be no assurance that the State will not face budget gaps
in the future.
 
    BOND RATING.   State general obligation bonds ratings were reduced in  July,
1994  to "A1" by Moody's and "A" by S&P. Both of these ratings were reduced from
"AAA" levels which the  State held until  late 1991. There  can be no  assurance
that  such ratings will be maintained in the future. It should be noted that the
creditworthiness of  obligations  issued  by local  California  issuers  may  be
unrelated  to  the  creditworthiness  of  obligations  issued  by  the  State of
California, and that there  is no obligation  on the part of  the State to  make
payment on such local obligations in the event of default.
 
    LEGAL  PROCEEDINGS.   The  State is  involved  in certain  legal proceedings
(described in the State's recent financial statements) that, if decided  against
the  State, may require the State to make significant future expenditures or may
substantially impair  revenues. Trial  courts  have recently  entered  tentative
decisions  or  injunctions which  would overturn  several  parts of  the state's
recent budget  compromises. The  matters  covered by  these lawsuits  include  a
deferral  of payments  by the State  to the Public  Employees Retirement System,
reductions in welfare payments, and the  use of certain cigarette tax funds  for
health costs. All of these cases are subject to further proceedings and appeals,
and  if  the State  eventually  loses, the  final remedies  may  not have  to be
implemented in one year.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
OBLIGATIONS OF OTHER ISSUERS
 
    OTHER ISSUERS OF  CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL  OBLIGATIONS. There are  a number  of
state  agencies, instrumentalities and political  subdivisions of the State 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 the
obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the State.
 
    STATE ASSISTANCE.  Property  tax  revenues  received  by  local  governments
declined  more than 50%  following passage of  Proposition 13. Subsequently, the
California Legislature enacted measures to provide for the redistribution of the
State's General  Fund surplus  to local  agencies, the  reallocation of  certain
State  revenues to  local agencies  and the  assumption of  certain governmental
functions by the State  to assist municipal issuers  to raise revenues.  Through
1990-91, local assistance (including public schools) accounted for approximately
75%  of General Fund spending.  To reduce State General  Fund support for school
districts, the  1992-93 and  1993-94  Budget Acts  caused local  governments  to
transfer $3.9 billion of property tax revenues to school districts, representing
loss of all of the post-Proposition 13 "bailout" aid. The largest share of these
transfers came from counties, and the balance from cities, special districts and
redevelopment  agencies. In  order to  make up  this shortfall,  the Legislature
proposed and  voters  approved in  1993  dedicating 0.5%  of  the sales  tax  to
counties and cities for public safety purposes. In addition, the Legislature has
changed  laws to relieve local governments of certain mandates, allowing them to
reduce costs.
 
    To the  extent  the  State  should  be  constrained  by  its  Article  XIIIB
appropriations  limit, or its obligation to  conform to Proposition 98, or other
fiscal considerations,  the absolute  level, or  the rate  of growth,  of  State
assistance to local governments may be reduced. Any such reductions in State aid
could  compound the serious fiscal constraints already experienced by many local
governments, particularly counties. At least  one rural county (Butte)  publicly
announced  that it might  enter bankruptcy proceedings  in August 1990, although
such plans  were put  off after  the Governor  approved legislation  to  provide
additional  funds for the county. Other  counties have also indicated that their
budgetary condition is  extremely grave.  The Richmond  Unified School  District
(Contra  Costa  County)  entered  bankruptcy proceedings  in  May  1991  but the
proceedings have been dismissed.
 
    ASSESSMENT BONDS.  California  Municipal Obligations  which  are  assessment
bonds  may be adversely affected by a general decline in real estate values or a
slowdown in real estate sales activity. In many cases, such bonds are secured by
land which  is  undeveloped  at the  time  of  issuance but  anticipated  to  be
developed  within a few years after issuance.  In the event of such reduction or
slowdown, such development may not occur  or may be delayed, thereby  increasing
the  risk of a  default on the  bonds. Because the  special assessments or taxes
securing these  bonds  are not  the  personal liability  of  the owners  of  the
property  assessed, the lien on the property is the only security for the bonds.
Moreover, in  most cases  the issuer  of these  bonds is  not required  to  make
payments  on the bonds in the event of delinquency in the payment of assessments
or taxes, except from  amounts, if any,  in a reserve  fund established for  the
bonds.
 
    CALIFORNIA  LONG-TERM LEASE OBLIGATIONS.  Certain California long-term lease
obligations, though typically payable from the general fund of the municipality,
are subject to "abatement" in the event the facility being leased is unavailable
for beneficial use  and occupancy  by the municipality  during the  term of  the
lease. Abatement is not a default, and there may
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
be no remedies available to the holders of the certificates evidencing the lease
obligation in the event abatement occurs. The most common cases of abatement are
failure  to complete construction of  the facility before the  end of the period
during which lease payments have been capitalized and uninsured casualty  losses
to  the facility (E.G., due  to earthquake). In the  event abatement occurs with
respect to  a  lease obligation,  lease  payments  may be  interrupted  (if  all
available  insurance proceeds and  reserves are exhausted)  and the certificates
may not be paid when due.
 
    Several years  ago the  Richmond Unified  School District  (the  "District")
entered  into a  lease transaction in  which certain existing  properties of the
District were sold and leased back in  order to obtain funds to cover  operating
deficits.  Following a fiscal crisis in which the District's finances were taken
over by  a State  receiver  (including a  brief  period under  bankruptcy  court
protection),  the  District  failed  to  make  rental  payments  on  this lease,
resulting in  a lawsuit  by the  Trustee for  the Certificate  of  Participation
holders,  in  which the  State was  a named  defendant (on  the grounds  that it
controlled the District's  finances). One of  the defenses raised  in answer  to
this  lawsuit was the  invalidity of the  District's lease. The  trial court has
upheld the validity of  the lease and  the case has  been settled. Any  ultimate
judgment  in any future case against the position asserted by the Trustee in the
Richmond case may have adverse implications for lease transactions of a  similar
nature by other California entities.
 
    OTHER  CONSIDERATIONS.  The repayment  of industrial  development securities
secured by real property may be affected by California laws limiting foreclosure
rights of creditors. Securities backed by health care and hospital revenues  may
be  affected by  changes in State  regulations governing  cost reimbursements to
health care providers under Medi-Cal  (the State's Medicaid program),  including
risks  related  to  the  policy  of  awarding  exclusive  contracts  to  certain
hospitals.
 
    Limitations on  AD  VALOREM  property taxes  may  particularly  affect  "tax
allocation"  bonds issued by  California redevelopment agencies.  Such bonds are
secured solely by the increase in assessed valuation of a redevelopment  project
area  after  the start  of redevelopment  activity. In  the event  that assessed
values in the redevelopment  project decline (E.G., because  of a major  natural
disaster  such as an earthquake), the  tax increment revenue may be insufficient
to make principal  and interest payments  on these bonds.  Both Moody's and  S&P
suspended  ratings on  California tax  allocation bonds  after the  enactment of
Articles XIIIA and XIIIB, and only resumed such ratings on a selective basis.
 
    Proposition 87, approved  by California  voters in 1988,  requires that  all
revenues  produced by a tax rate increase go directly to the taxing entity which
increased such tax rate to repay that entity's general obligation  indebtedness.
As  a result, redevelopment  agencies (which, typically, are  the issuers of tax
allocation securities) no longer receive an increase in tax increment when taxes
on property in  the project area  are increased to  repay voter-approved  bonded
indebtedness.
 
    The  effect of these  various constitutional and  statutory changes upon the
ability of California municipal securities issuers to pay interest and principal
on their obligations remains unclear. Furthermore, other measures affecting  the
taxing  or spending authority of California or its political subdivisions may be
approved or enacted  in the future.  Legislation has been  or may be  introduced
which  would modify  existing taxes or  other revenue-raising  measures or which
either would further limit  or, alternatively, would  increase the abilities  of
state  and local governments to impose new  taxes or increase existing taxes. It
is not presently possible  to predict the extent  to which any such  legislation
will be enacted. Nor is
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
it  presently  possible  to determine  the  impact  of any  such  legislation on
California  Municipal  Obligations  in  which   the  Fund  may  invest,   future
allocations  of state revenues to local governments or the abilities of state or
local governments  to pay  the interest  on,  or repay  the principal  of,  such
California Municipal Obligations.
 
    Substantially  all of California is within an active geologic region subject
to major seismic activity. Northern  California in 1989 and Southern  California
in  1994 experienced major  earthquakes causing billions  of dollars in damages.
The  federal  government  provided  more  than  $13  billion  in  aid  for  both
earthquakes,  and  neither  event is  expected  to have  any  long-term negative
economic impact. Any California Municipal  Obligation in the California  Insured
Trust  could  be affected  by  an interruption  of  revenues because  of damaged
facilities, or,  consequently,  income tax  deductions  for casualty  losses  or
property  tax assessment reductions. Compensatory  financial assistance could be
constrained by  the inability  of  (i) an  issuer  to have  obtained  earthquake
insurance  coverage  at reasonable  rates;  (ii) an  insurer  to perform  on its
contracts of insurance in the event  of widespread losses; or (iii) the  Federal
or  State  government to  appropriate sufficient  funds within  their respective
budget limitations.
 
    On January 17, 1994, a major  earthquake with an estimated magnitude of  6.8
on  the Richter scale struck the  Los Angeles area, causing significant property
damage to public and private facilities, presently estimated at $15-20  billion.
While  over $9.5 billion of  federal aid, and a  projected $1.9 billion of State
aid, plus insurance proceeds,  will reimburse much of  that loss, there will  be
some  ultimate loss of wealth and income in  the region, in addition to costs of
the  disruption  caused  by  the  event.  Short-term  economic  projections  are
generally  neutral, as the infusion  of aid will restore  billions of dollars to
the local economy within a few  months; already the local construction  industry
has  picked up. Although the earthquake  will hinder recovery from the recession
in Southern California, already hard-hit,  its long-term impact is not  expected
to  be material in the context of the  overall wealth of the region. Almost five
years after the event, there are few  remaining effects of the 1989 Loma  Prieta
earthquake  in northern  California (which,  however, caused  less severe damage
than Northridge).
 
   
    On December 7, 1994, Orange County, California (the "County"), together with
its pooled  investment  fund (the  "Pooled  Fund") filed  for  protection  under
Chapter 9 of the federal Bankruptcy Code, after reports that the Pooled Fund had
suffered  significant market losses in its investments caused a liquidity crisis
for the Pooled Fund and  the County. More than  180 other public entities,  most
but  not all located in the County, were  also depositors in the Pooled Fund. As
of mid-January, 1995, the County estimated the Pooled Fund's loss at about $1.64
billion of its initial deposits of around $7.5 billion. The Pooled Fund has been
almost completely restructured  to reduce  its exposure to  changes in  interest
rates.  Many of the entities which kept moneys in the Pooled Fund, including the
County, are facing cash flow difficulties  because of the bankruptcy filing  and
may  be required to reduce programs or  capital projects. The County and some of
these entities have, and others may in  the future, default in payment of  their
obligations.  Moody's and  Standard &  Poor's have  suspended, reduced  to below
investment grade levels, or placed on  "Credit Watch" various securities of  the
County and the entities participating in the Pooled Fund.
    
    The State of California has no obligation with respect to any obligations or
securities  of the County  or any of the  other participating entities, although
under existing  legal precedents,  the State  may be  obligated to  ensure  that
school districts have sufficient funds to operate.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
CALIFORNIA 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 1995 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.  For
cases  in which more than one state  bracket falls within a Federal bracket, the
highest state bracket is combined with  the Federal bracket. The combined  state
and  Federal tax  brackets shown  reflect the fact  that state  tax payments are
currently deductible for Federal  tax purposes. 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-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      20.0   %     6.25    6.56    6.88    7.19    7.50    7.81    8.13    8.44
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      34.5         7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92   10.31
                 114.7-172.1      35.5         7.75    8.14    8.53    8.91    9.30    9.69   10.08   10.47
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      37.5         8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80
                 114.7-172.1      38.5         8.13    8.54    8.94    9.35    9.76   10.16   10.57   10.98
                 172.1-214.9      40.5         8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92   11.34
   143.6-214.9   114.7-172.1      43.0         8.77    9.21    8.77    9.21    9.65   10.09   10.53   10.96
                 172.1-214.9      45.5         9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39
                 214.9-239.9      46.5         9.35    9.81   10.28   10.75   11.21   11.68   12.15   12.62
                 239.9-294.6      46.0         9.26    9.72   10.19   10.65   11.11   11.57   12.04   12.50
                  Over 294.6      43.5   2     8.85    9.29    9.73   10.18   10.62   11.06   11.50   11.95
   214.9-256.5   172.1-214.9      46.0         9.26    9.72   10.19   10.65   11.11   11.57   12.04   12.50
                 214.9-239.9      47.0         9.43    9.91   10.38   10.85   11.32   11.79   12.26   12.74
                 239.9-294.6      46.5         9.35    9.81   10.28   10.75   11.21   11.68   12.15   12.62
                  Over 294.6      44.0   2     8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61   12.05
   256.5-429.9   239.9-294.6      50.0        10.00   10.50   11.00   11.50   12.00   12.50   13.00   13.50
                  Over 294.6      47.0   3     9.43    9.91   10.38   10.85   11.32   11.79   12.26   12.74
    Over 429.9    Over 294.6      47.5   3     9.52   10.00   10.48   10.95   11.43   11.90   12.38   12.86
</TABLE>
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS      STATE* AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-107.5      20.0   %     6.25    6.56    6.88    7.19    7.50    7.81    8.13    8.44
    23.4- 56.6       0-107.5      34.5         7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92   10.31
    56.6-107.5       0-107.5      37.5         8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80
                 107.5-114.7      38.0         8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89
                 114.7-132.5      39.5         8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16
                 132.5-237.2      39.0         8.20    8.61    9.02    9.43    9.84   10.25   10.66   11.07
   107.5-118.0       0-107.5      38.0         8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89
                 107.5-114.7      38.5         8.13    8.54    8.94    9.35    9.76   10.16   10.57   10.98
                 114.7-132.5      40.0         8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83   11.25
                 132.5-237.2      39.5         8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16
   118.0-214.9   114.7-132.5      44.5         9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16
                 132.5-237.2      44.5         9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16
                  Over 237.2      44.0   2     8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61   12.05
   214.9-256.5   132.5-237.2      45.0         9.09    9.55   10.00   10.45   10.91   11.36   11.82   12.27
                  Over 237.2      44.5   2     9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      47.5   3     9.52   10.00   10.48   10.95   11.43   11.90   12.38   12.86
<FN>
- ------------------
    * The State tax rates assumed take into account the adjustment  of tax brackets based on changes in the Consumer Price  Index
for 1994.
      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. The table also reflects California income tax
laws that increase state income tax rates for high income  taxpayers, limit itemized deductions and phase out the benefit of  the
personal exemption credit and the dependent exemption credit in a manner similar to Federal tax law.
      2  Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0% and the state tax rate reverts to the applicable stated maximum rate after the 80% cap
on the limitation on itemized deductions, under federal or state law, as appropriate has been met.
      3 Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
</TABLE>
 
    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
the 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 Trust  are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
FEBRUARY 6, 1995
CALIFORNIA INSURED TRUST 242
(SERIES 783)
    
 
<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(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      State of California, Various Purpose General        2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       463,975
                   Obligation Bonds, 5.75% Due 3/1/23.
    500,000      State Public Works Board of the State of            2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             447,655
                   California, Lease Revenue Bonds (Department
                   of Corrections), 1993 Series E (California
                   State Prison-Madera County (II)), 5.50% Due
                   6/1/19.
    500,000      The Regents of the University of California,        2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             449,795
                   1993 Refunding Certificates of Participation
                   (UCLA Central Chiller/ Cogeneration
                   Facility), 5.60% Due 11/1/20.
    500,000      Fairfield Public Financing Authority                2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             464,095
                   (California), 1993 Revenue Bonds, Series B,
                   5.80% Due 4/1/23.
    130,000      Department of Water and Power of The City of        2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             111,708
                   Los Angeles, California, Electric Plant
                   Revenue Bonds, Issue of 1994, 5.20% Due
                   2/15/17.
    370,000      Sacramento, California, Municipal Utility           2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             316,583
                   District, Electric Revenue Refunding Bonds,
                   1993 Series D, 5.25% Due 11/15/20. (Original
                   issue discount bonds delivered on or about
                   May 6, 1993 at a price of 93.784% of
                   principal amount.)
    500,000      The City of San Diego, California, Industrial       2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             472,655
                   Development Revenue Refunding Bonds (San
                   Diego Gas & Electric Company), 1993 Series C,
                   5.90% Due 9/1/18.
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             512,500
                   Bonds of 1994 (General Obligation Bonds),
                   6.50% Due 7/1/23.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,238,966
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 48.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
   
FLORIDA INSURED TRUST 205
    
   
    The  Portfolio of Florida Insured Trust 205 consists of 7 obligations issued
by entities located in Florida and one obligation issued by an entity located in
the Territory of Puerto Rico. Two Bonds in the Trust are general obligations  of
the  governmental  entities issuing  them and  are backed  by the  taxing powers
thereof. Six Bonds in the  Trust 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 these Bonds are divided
as follows: Dedicated-Tax  Supported Revenue, 1;  Electrical System Revenue,  1;
Health  Care Facility Revenue, 1; Municipal Lease Revenue, 1; Water and/or Sewer
Revenue, 2. All of the Bonds in the Trust, as insured, are rated AAA by Standard
& Poor's Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
    
 
   
    At the Date of  Deposit, the average  maturity of the  Bonds in the  Florida
Insured  Trust is 27.6  years. The average maturity  of the Bonds  in a Trust is
calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such 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 the Bonds in a Trust may  increase or decrease from time to time as
Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
   
    Approximately 18.9% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in  the
Trust (accounting for approximately 17.7% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds)    are   original    issue   discount    bonds.   See    "GENERAL   TRUST
INFORMATION--ORIGINAL ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS  AND STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for  a
discussion  of the  characteristics of  such bonds  and of  the risks associated
therewith.
    
 
    Approximately 25% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust  consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily derived
from the sale of water and/or sewerage services.
 
    For a discussion of  the risks associated with  investments in the bonds  of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The  Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds between February 1,
1995 and February 3,  1995. The following  summarizes certain information  about
the Bonds as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,268,847       $27,675           $203,733      $3,278,991                 .50%
</TABLE>
 
   
    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.  An  underwriter  or  underwriting
syndicate purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive  bid
basis  as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at a
profit. The Sponsor participated as either the sole underwriter or manager or as
a member of the syndicates which were the original underwriters of 14.3% of  the
aggregate principal amount of the Bonds.
    
 
   
    Unitholders  may elect  to have  interest distributions  made on  a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the Florida Insured Trust,  less estimated expenses, is  estimated to accrue  at
the rate of $.01566 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01560  per Unit per day  under the quarterly plan  of distribution and $.01552
per Unit per day under the monthly plan of distribution. 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.
    
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
    Details  of interest  distributions per  Unit of  the Florida  Insured 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
FLORIDA INSURED TRUST                                             1995                               PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        3/1            5/1            8/1           11/1
Distribution Date.....................       3/15           5/15           8/15          11/15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .3880(1)                                              $  5.5873
                                                        --------  $.4656 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .3880(1)   $   .9360(2)   $  1.4040      $  1.4040    $  5.6193
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .3880(1)   $   .9396(3)                  $  2.8188    $  5.6383
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 *  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.
(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)  The  second distribution  under the  quarterly distribution  plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3) The second distribution  under the semi-annual  distribution plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent  semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
    The  accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn 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.
 
TAX STATUS--FLORIDA INSURED TRUST
 
    For  a discussion  of the  Federal tax  status of  income earned  on Florida
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    The assets of the Florida Insured Trust (the "Trust") will consist solely of
interest-bearing obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of Florida, its
political subdivisions and authorities  or by the  Commonwealth of Puerto  Rico,
Guam,  the Virgin Islands, American Samoa,  or the Northern Mariana Islands (the
"Florida Bonds").
 
    In the opinion  of Carlton, Fields,  Ward, Emmanuel, Smith  & Cutler,  P.A.,
special counsel for the Trust for Florida tax matters, under existing law:
 
        For  Florida state income tax purposes, the Trust will not be subject to
    the Florida income tax imposed by the Florida Code so long as the Trust  has
    no  income subject to federal  taxation. In addition, political subdivisions
    of Florida do not impose any income taxes.
 
        Because  Florida  does  not  impose   an  income  tax  on   individuals,
    non-corporate  Unitholders will not be subject  to any Florida income tax on
    income realized by the Trust. Each  corporate Unitholder will be subject  to
    Florida  income taxation on  its share of  the income realized  by the Trust
    notwithstanding the  tax exempt  status of  the interest  received from  any
    bonds under Section 103(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any other
    federal  law,  unless the  interest  income constitutes  nonbusiness income.
    Nevertheless, any corporate Unitholder that  has its commercial domicile  in
    Florida  will be taxable  under the Florida  Code on its  share of the Trust
    income which constitutes nonbusiness income.
 
        Trust Units  will be  subject to  Florida estate  tax only  if owned  by
    Florida  residents,  certain natural  persons not  domiciled in  Florida, or
    certain natural persons  not residents  of the United  States. However,  the
    Florida  estate tax is limited  to the amount of  the credit allowable under
    the applicable  Federal Revenue  Act (currently  Section 2011  (and in  some
    cases  Section 2102) of the  Internal Revenue Code of  1986, as amended) for
    death taxes actually paid to the several states.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
        Neither the Florida Bonds nor the  Units will be subject to the  Florida
    ad valorem property tax or Florida sales or use tax.
 
        Because   Bonds  issued  by  the  State  of  Florida  or  its  political
    subdivisions or  by  the  Commonwealth  of Puerto  Rico,  Guam,  the  Virgin
    Islands,  American Samoa  and the Northern  Mariana Islands  are exempt from
    Florida intangible  personal property  taxation under  Chapter 199,  Florida
    Statutes,  as amended, the  Trust will not be  subject to Florida intangible
    personal property tax. In addition, the  Unitholders will not be subject  to
    Florida intangible personal property tax on the Units.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--FLORIDA
 
    POPULATION.   In 1980,  Florida was the  seventh most populous  state in the
U.S. The State has grown dramatically since then and as of April 1, 1993,  ranks
fourth  with an estimated  population of 13.4  million. Florida's attraction, as
both a growth and retirement state, has kept net migration fairly steady with an
average of 292,988 new residents a year from 1983 through 1993. The U.S. average
population increase since  1982 is  about 1% annually,  while Florida's  average
annual  rate of  increase is  about 2.5%.  Florida continues  to be  the fastest
growing of the ten largest states.  This strong population growth is one  reason
the State's economy is performing better than the nation as a whole. In addition
to attracting senior citizens to Florida as a place for retirement, the State is
also  recognized as attracting a significant  number of working age individuals.
Since 1983, the  prime working age  population (18-44) has  grown at an  average
annual rate of 2.6%. The share of Florida's total working age population (18-59)
to  total State population is  approximately 54%. This share  is not expected to
change appreciably into the twenty-first century.
 
    INCOME.  The  State's personal  income has  been growing  strongly the  last
several  years and has generally  outperformed both the U.S.  as a whole and the
southeast in particular, according  to the U.S. Department  of Commerce and  the
Florida  Consensus Economic Estimating Conference. This  is due to the fact that
Florida's population has been growing at a very strong pace and, since the early
1970's, the State's economy has diversified so as to provide greater  insulation
from  national  economic  downturns.  As a  result,  Florida's  real  per capita
personal income has tracked  closely with the national  average and has  tracked
above  the southeast. From 1984 through 1993, the State's real per capita income
rose at an average of 5.4% per  year, while the national real per capita  income
increased at an average of 5.5% per year.
 
    Because  Florida has  a proportionately  greater retirement  age population,
property income (dividends,  interest, and rent)  and transfer payments  (Social
Security  and pension  benefits, among other  sources of  income) are relatively
more important  sources  of  income.  For example,  Florida's  total  wages  and
salaries  and other labor income in 1993 was 62% of total personal income, while
a similar  figure  for  the nation  for  1990  was 72%.  Transfer  payments  are
typically  less  sensitive to  the business  cycle  than employment  income and,
therefore, act as stabilizing forces in weak economic periods.
 
    The State's per capita personal income in 1992 of $19,711 was slightly below
the national  average  of  $20,105  and significantly  ahead  of  that  for  the
southeast United States, which was $17,296. Real personal income in the State is
estimated  to  increase 5.5%  in  1993-94 and  4.7% in  1994-95.  By the  end of
1994-95, real personal income  per capita in the  State is projected to  average
6.7% higher than its 1992-93 level.
 
    EMPLOYMENT.   Since 1980, the State's job  creation rate is almost twice the
rate for the nation as a whole, and its growth rate in new non-agricultural jobs
is the fastest of the 11 most populous states, second only to California in  the
absolute  number of new jobs created. Contributing  to the State's rapid rate of
growth in employment and income is international trade. Since 1980, the  State's
unemployment  rate has generally  been below that  of the U.S.  In recent years,
however, as the  State's economic  growth has  slowed from  its previous  highs,
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
the  State's  unemployment  rate has  tracked  above the  national  average. The
average rate in Florida since 1980 has  been 6.5% while the national average  is
7.1%.  According to the  U.S. Department of Commerce,  the Florida Department of
Labor and Employment  Security, and  the Florida  Consensus Economic  Estimating
Conference  (together, the  "Organization"), the  State's unemployment  rate was
8.2% during  1992. As  of  January 1994,  the  Organization estimates  that  the
unemployment rate will be 6.7% for 1993-94 and 6.1% in 1994-95.
 
    The rate of job creation in Florida's manufacturing sector has exceeded that
of the U.S. From the beginning of 1980 through 1993, the State added over 50,000
new  manufacturing jobs,  an 11.7%  increase. During  the same  period, national
manufacturing employment declined ten out of  the fourteen years, for a loss  of
2,977,000 jobs.
 
   
    Total non-farm employment in Florida is expected to increase 2.7% in 1993-94
and  rise  3.8% in  1994-95.  Trade and  services,  the two  largest  sources of
employment in  the State,  account for  more  than half  of the  total  non-farm
employment.  Employment in the service sectors  should experience an increase of
3.9% in 1993-94, while growing 4.9% in 1994-95. Trade is expected to expand 2.2%
in 1994  and  3.4% in  1995.  The service  sector  is now  the  State's  largest
employment category.
    
 
   
    CONSTRUCTION.   The State's economy has in the past been highly dependent on
the  construction  industry   and  construction   related  manufacturing.   This
dependency  has declined in recent  years and continues to do  so as a result of
continued diversification of the  State's economy. For  example, in 1980,  total
contract  construction employment  as a share  of total  non-farm employment was
just over 7.0%, and in  1993 the share had edged  downward to 5%. This trend  is
expected  to continue  as the State's  economy continues  to diversify. Florida,
nevertheless, has a dynamic construction industry, with single and  multi-family
housing  starts accounting for 8.5%  of total U.S. housing  starts in 1993 while
the State's population is 5.3% of  the U.S. total population. Florida's  housing
starts  since 1980  have represented  an average  of 11.0%  of the  U.S.'s total
annual starts, and  since 1980,  total housing  starts have  averaged 156,450  a
year.
    
 
    A  driving  force  behind the  State's  construction industry  has  been the
State's rapid rate  of population growth.  Although the State  currently is  the
fourth  most populous  state, its annual  population growth is  now projected to
decline as the number of people moving into the State is expected to hover  near
the  mid 250,000  range annually  throughout the  1990's. This  population trend
should provide fuel for business and home builders to keep construction activity
lively in Florida for some time to come. However, other factors do influence the
level of construction in the State. For example, federal tax reform in 1986  and
other  changes to the federal income tax code have eliminated tax deductions for
owners of more than two residential  real estate properties and have  lengthened
depreciation  schedules on investment and commercial properties. Economic growth
and existing supplies  of homes  also contribute  to the  level of  construction
activity in the State.
 
   
    Hurricane Andrew left some parts of south Florida devastated. Post-Hurricane
Andrew clean up and rebuilding have changed the outlook for the State's economy.
Single  and  multi-family housing  starts in  1993-94 are  projected to  reach a
combined  level  of  118,000,  increasing   to  134,300  next  year.   Lingering
recessionary  effects on consumers and tight credit  are some of the reasons for
relatively slow core construction  activity, as well  as lingering effects  from
the 1986 tax reform legislation discussed above. However, construction is one of
the  sectors most severely affected by  Hurricane Andrew. Low interest rates and
pent up  demand  combined  with  improved consumer  confidence  should  lead  to
improved  housing  starts.  The construction  figures  above  include additional
housing  starts  as  a  result   of  destruction  by  Hurricane  Andrew.   Total
construction  expenditures  are  forecasted  to  increase  15.6%  this  year and
increase 13.3% next year.
    
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
    The  State  has   continuously  been  dependent   on  the  highly   cyclical
construction  and  construction  related  manufacturing  industries.  While that
dependency has  decreased, the  State is  still  somewhat at  the mercy  of  the
construction and construction related manufacturing industries. The construction
industry  is driven to a great extent by the State's rapid growth in population.
There can be no  assurance that population growth  will continue throughout  the
1990's  in which case  there could be  an adverse impact  on the State's economy
through the loss  of construction and  construction related manufacturing  jobs.
Also,  while interest rates remain low  currently, an increase in interest rates
could significantly adversely  impact the financing  of new construction  within
the  State, thereby adversely impacting  unemployment and other economic factors
within the State. In addition, available  commercial office space has tended  to
remain  high over the past few years. So  long as this glut of commercial rental
space continues, construction  of this  type of  space will  likely continue  to
remain slow.
 
    TOURISM.    Tourism  is  one  of  the  State's  most  important  industries.
Approximately 41.1 million tourists  visited the State in  1993, as reported  by
the  Florida Department of  Commerce. In terms of  business activities and state
tax revenues, tourists in Florida in  1993 represented an estimated 4.5  million
additional  residents. Visitors to the  State tend to arrive  equally by air and
car. The State's tourism industry over the years has become more  sophisticated,
attracting  visitors year-round and, to a  degree, reducing its seasonality. The
dollar's  depreciation  has  enhanced  the  State's  tourism  industry.  Tourist
arrivals  are  expected to  decline by  almost  two percent  this year,  but are
expected to recover next year with  5.0% growth. Tourist arrivals to Florida  by
air  and car are  expected to diverge  from each other,  air decreasing 5.6% and
auto increasing  1.6%. By  the end  of  the State's  current fiscal  year,  41.0
million  domestic and  international tourists are  expected to  have visited the
State. In 1994-95 tourist arrivals should approximate 43.0 million.
 
    REVENUES AND EXPENSES.  Estimated  fiscal year 1993-94 General Revenue  plus
Working  Capital funds available  to the State total  $13,582.7 million, an 8.4%
increase over  1992-93. This  reflects a  transfer of  $190 million,  out of  an
estimated  $220.0 million in non-recurring revenue due to Hurricane Andrew, to a
hurricane relief trust fund. Of the  total General Revenue plus Working  Capital
funds  available to the  State, $12,943.5 million of  that is Estimated Revenues
(excluding the Hurricane Andrew  impact), which represents  an increase of  7.3%
over  the previous  year's Estimated  Revenues. With  effective General Revenues
plus Working  Capital Fund  appropriations  at $13,276.9  million,  unencumbered
reserves at the end of 1993-94 are estimated at $302.8 million. Estimated fiscal
year 1994-95 General Revenue plus Working Capital and Budget Stabilization funds
available  total $14,573.7  million, a 7.3%  increase over  1993-94. This amount
reflects a transfer of $159.0 million in non-recurring revenue due to  Hurricane
Andrew  to a hurricane relief fund.  The $13,860.8 million in Estimated Revenues
(excluding Hurricane  Andrew impact)  represent  an increase  of 7.1%  over  the
previous  year's Estimated Revenues.  The massive effort  to rebuild and replace
destroyed or damaged property in the wake of Hurricane Andrew is responsible for
the substantial positive revenue  impacts shown here. Most  of the impact is  in
the increase in the State's sales tax.
 
    In  fiscal  year  1992-93, approximately  62%  of the  State's  total direct
revenue to its three operating funds was derived from State taxes, with  Federal
grants and other special revenue accounting for the balance. State sales and use
tax,  corporate income  tax, intangible personal  property tax  and beverage tax
amounted to 68%,  7%, 4% and  4%, respectively, of  total General Revenue  Funds
available  during fiscal 1992-93. In that same year, expenditures for education,
health and welfare, and  public safety amounted to  approximately 49%, 30%,  and
11%, respectively, of total expenditures from the General Revenue Fund.
 
    The State's sales and use tax (6%) currently accounts for the State's single
largest  source of tax receipts. Sightly less  than 10% of the State's sales and
use tax is designated for
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
local governments  and  is  distributed  to the  respective  counties  in  which
collected  for use by the counties,  and the municipalities therein. In addition
to this distribution, local governments may  assess (by referendum) a 0.5% or  a
1.0%  discretionary sales surtax  within their county.  Proceeds from this local
option sales tax  are earmarked  for funding local  infrastructure programs  and
acquiring  land for public  recreation or conservation  or protection of natural
resources as provided  under applicable  Florida law.  Certain charter  counties
have  other  additional  taxing  powers, and  non-consolidated  counties  with a
population in  excess of  800,000 may  levy a  local option  sales tax  to  fund
indigent  health care. It  alone cannot exceed  0.5% and when  combined with the
infrastructure surtax cannot  exceed 1.0%. For  the fiscal year  ended June  30,
1993,  sales and use tax receipts (exclusive  of the tax on gasoline and special
fuels) totalled $9,426.0 million, an increase of 12.5% over fiscal year 1991-92.
 
    The second largest source of State tax  receipts is the tax on motor  fuels.
However,  these revenues are almost entirely  dedicated trust funds for specific
purposes and are not included in the State's General Revenue Fund.
 
    The State imposes an alcoholic beverage wholesale tax (excise tax) on  beer,
wine,  and  liquor. This  tax  is one  of the  State's  major tax  sources, with
revenues totalling $442.2 million in fiscal year ending June 30, 1993. Alcoholic
beverage tax  receipts  increased  1.6%  from the  previous  year's  total.  The
revenues  collected from this tax are deposited into the State's General Revenue
Fund.
 
    The State imposes  a corporate  income tax.  All receipts  of the  corporate
income  tax are credited to the General  Revenue Fund. For the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1993,  receipts from this  source were $846.6  million, an increase  of
5.6% from fiscal year 1991-92.
 
    The  State  imposes a  documentary stamp  tax on  deeds and  other documents
relating to  realty,  corporate  shares, bonds,  certificates  of  indebtedness,
promissory  notes, wage assignments, and retail charge accounts. The documentary
stamp tax  collections totalled  $639.0 million  during fiscal  year 1992-93,  a
27.0%  increase from the previous fiscal year. Beginning in fiscal year 1992-93,
71.29% of these taxes is to be deposited to the General Revenue Fund.
 
    The State  imposes  a gross  receipts  tax  on electric,  natural  gas,  and
telecommunications  services. All  gross receipt  utilities tax  collections are
credited to the State's Public Education  Capital Outlay and Debt Service  Trust
Fund. In fiscal year 1992-93, this amounted to $447.9 million.
 
    The  State imposes  an intangible  personal property  tax on  stocks, bonds,
including bonds secured by liens  in Florida real property, notes,  governmental
leaseholds,  and certain other intangibles not secured by a lien on Florida real
property. The  annual  rate  of  tax  is  2  mils.  The  State  also  imposes  a
non-recurring  2 mil tax on mortgages and  other obligations secured by liens on
Florida real  property.  In  fiscal  year  1992-93,  total  intangible  personal
property  tax collections  were $783.4  million, a  33% increase  over the prior
year. Of the tax proceeds, 66.5% is distributed to the General Revenue Fund.
 
    The State's severance tax taxes oil, gas and sulphur production, as well  as
the severance of phosphate rock and other solid minerals. Total collections from
severance  taxes total $64.5 million during  fiscal year 1992-93, down 4.0% from
the previous year. Currently  60% of this amount  is transferred to the  General
Revenue Fund.
 
    The  State began its  own lottery in  1988. State law  requires that lottery
revenues be  distributed  50.0%  to the  public  in  prizes, 38.0%  for  use  in
enhancing  education, and  the balance,  12.0%, for  costs of  administering the
lottery. Fiscal  year  1992-93  lottery ticket  sales  totalled  $2.13  billion,
providing education with approximately $810.4 million.
 
    DEBT-BALANCED  BUDGET REQUIREMENT.  At the end of fiscal 1993, approximately
$5.61 billion in principal amount of debt  secured by the full faith and  credit
of  the State was outstanding. In addition, since July 1, 1993, the State issued
about $1.13 billion in principal amount of full faith and credit bonds.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
    The State Constitution  and statutes  mandate that  the State  budget, as  a
whole,  and each separate fund within the  State budget, be kept in balance from
currently available revenues each  fiscal year. If  the Governor or  Comptroller
believe  a deficit will occur in any State fund, by statute, he must certify his
opinion to the Administrative Commission, which then is authorized to reduce all
State agency budgets and releases by a sufficient amount to prevent a deficit in
any fund.  Additionally,  the State  Constitution  prohibits issuance  of  State
obligations to fund State operations.
 
    LITIGATION.  Currently under litigation are several issues relating to State
actions  or State taxes that put at  risk substantial amounts of General Revenue
Fund monies.  Accordingly, there  is  no assurance  that  any of  such  matters,
individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse affect on the
State's financial position.
 
    Florida  law provides preferential tax treatment  to insurers who maintain a
home office in the State.  Certain insurers challenged the constitutionality  of
this  tax preference and  sought a refund  of taxes paid.  Recently, the Florida
Supreme Court ruled  in favor of  the State.  This case and  others, along  with
pending refund claims, total about $150 million.
 
    The  State imposes a $295  fee on the issuance  of certificates of title for
motor vehicles previously titled outside the  State. The State has been sued  by
plaintiffs  alleging  that this  fee violates  the Commerce  Clause of  the U.S.
Constitution. The Circuit Court in which the case was filed has granted  summary
judgment  for the plaintiffs  and has enjoined further  collection of the impact
fee and  has ordered  refunds to  all  those who  have paid  the fee  since  the
collection of the fee went into effect. The State has appealed the lower Court's
decision  and an  automatic stay has  been granted  to the State  allowing it to
continue to collect the fee.  The potential refund exposure  to the State if  it
should lose the case may be in excess of $100 million.
 
    The  State  maintains a  bond rating  of  Aa and  AA from  Moody's Investors
Service and Standard & Poor's Corporation, respectively, on the majority of  its
general  obligation bonds, although the rating of a particular series of revenue
bonds relates primarily to the project,  facility, or other revenue source  from
which  such series derives funds for repayment.  While these ratings and some of
the information  presented above  indicate  that the  State is  in  satisfactory
economic  health, there can be no assurance that  there will not be a decline in
economic conditions or that particular Florida Bonds purchased by the fund  will
not be adversely affected by any such changes.
 
    The  sources for the information presented above include official statements
and financial statements  of the  State of Florida.  While the  Sponsor has  not
independently  verified this information,  it has no reason  to believe that the
information is not correct in all material respects.
 
FLORIDA 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  published  1995  marginal  Federal  tax  rates.  The  tables  incorporate
increased  tax  rates  for higher-income  taxpayers  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 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.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      15.0   %     5.88    6.18    6.47    6.76    7.06    7.35    7.65    7.94
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      28.0         6.94    7.29    7.64    7.99    8.33    8.68    9.03    9.38
                 114.7-172.1      29.0         7.04    7.39    7.75    8.10    8.45    8.80    9.15    9.51
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      31.0         7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42    9.78
                 114.7-172.1      32.0         7.35    7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19    9.56    9.93
                 172.1-294.6      34.5         7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92   10.31
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      37.0         7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71
                 172.1-294.6      40.0         8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83   11.25
                  Over 294.6      37.0   2     7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      44.0         8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61   12.05
                  Over 294.6      41.0   3     8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02   11.44
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      15.0   %     5.88    6.18    6.47    6.76    7.06    7.35    7.65    7.94
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      28.0         6.94    7.29    7.64    7.99    8.33    8.68    9.03    9.38
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      31.0         7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42    9.78
                 114.7-237.2      32.5         7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26    9.63   10.00
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      38.0         8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89
                  Over 237.2      37.0   2     7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      41.0   3     8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02   11.44
<FN>
- ------------------
      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.
</TABLE>
 
    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
the 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 Trust are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
FEBRUARY 6, 1995
FLORIDA INSURED TRUST 205
(SERIES 783)
    
 
<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(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   435,000      State of Florida, State Board of Education,         2003 at 101        AAA         Aaa     $       389,882
                   Public Education Capital Outlay Bonds, 1993
                   Series C, 5.40% Due 6/1/18. (General
                   Obligation Bonds.)
    525,000      Hillsborough County Industrial Development          2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             521,063
                   Authority (Florida), Pollution Control
                   Revenue Refunding Bonds (Tampa Electric
                   Company Project), Series 1994, 6.25% Due
                   12/1/34.
    380,000      City of Miramar, Florida, Water Improvement         2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             346,815
                   Assessment Bonds, Series 1993, 5.60% Due
                   10/1/24.
    500,000      Orange County, Florida, Sales Tax Revenue           2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             441,785
                   Bonds, Series 1993B, 5.375% Due 1/1/24.
    160,000      The School Board of Seminole County, Florida,       2004 at 101        AAA         Aaa             162,562
                   Certificates of Participation, Series 1994B,
                   6.50% Due 7/1/21. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about November 30, 1994
                   at a price of 92.863% of principal amount.)
    500,000      City of Tampa, Florida, Allegany Health System      2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             419,415
                   Revenue Bonds, St. Joseph's Hospital, Inc.
                   Issue, Series 1993, 5.125% Due 12/1/23.
                   (Original issue discount bonds delivered on
                   or about January 4, 1994 at a price of
                   94.522% of principal amount.)
    500,000      City of Titusville, Florida, Water and Sewer        2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             505,000
                   Revenue Bonds, Series 1994, 6.20% Due
                   10/1/14.
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             510,000
                   Bonds of 1994 (General Obligation Bonds),
                   6.45% Due 7/1/17.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,296,522
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 48.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
   
MICHIGAN INSURED TRUST 59
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio of Michigan Insured Trust 59 consists of 6 obligations issued
by entities located in Michigan and  one obligation issued by an entity  located
in  the  Territory  of  Puerto  Rico.  Three  Bonds  in  the  Trust  are general
obligations of the  governmental entities  issuing them  and are  backed by  the
taxing  powers thereof. Four Bonds in the  Trust 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 these
Bonds are divided  as follows:  Health Care  Facility Revenue,  1; Water  and/or
Sewer  Revenue, 3. All of the  Bonds in the Trust, as  insured, are rated AAA by
Standard & Poor's Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
    
 
   
    At the Date of Deposit,  the average maturity of  the Bonds in the  Michigan
Insured  Trust is 23.9  years. The average maturity  of the Bonds  in a Trust is
calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such 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 the Bonds in a Trust may  increase or decrease from time to time as
Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
   
    Approximately 14.3% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in  the
Trust (accounting for approximately 12.1% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds)    are   original    issue   discount    bonds.   See    "GENERAL   TRUST
INFORMATION--ORIGINAL ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS  AND STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for  a
discussion  of the  characteristics of  such bonds  and of  the risks associated
therewith.
    
 
    Approximately 43% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust  consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily derived
from the sale of water and/or sewerage services.
 
    For a discussion of  the risks associated with  investments in the bonds  of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The  Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds between February 1,
1995 and February 3,  1995. The following  summarizes certain information  about
the Bonds as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,348,657       $23,783           $212,125      $3,356,190                 .46%
</TABLE>
 
    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.  An  underwriter  or  underwriting
syndicate purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive  bid
basis  as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at a
profit. 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.
 
   
    Unitholders may  elect to  have interest  distributions made  on a  monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the  Michigan Insured Trust, less estimated  expenses, is estimated to accrue at
the rate of $.01634 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01629 per Unit per day under the
    
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
   
quarterly plan of distribution  and $.01620 per Unit  per day under the  monthly
plan  of  distribution. 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.
    
 
    Details  of interest  distributions per Unit  of the  Michigan Insured 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
MICHIGAN INSURED TRUST                                            1995                               PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        3/1            5/1            8/1           11/1
Distribution Date.....................       3/15           5/15           8/15          11/15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .4050(1)                                              $  5.8327
                                                        --------  $.4860 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .4050(1)   $   .9774(2)   $  1.4661      $  1.4661    $  5.8647
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .4050(1)   $   .9804(3)                  $  2.9412    $  5.8837
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<FN>
 *  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.
(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)  The  second distribution  under the  quarterly distribution  plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3) The second distribution  under the semi-annual  distribution plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent  semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
    The  accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn 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.
 
TAX STATUS--MICHIGAN INSURED TRUST
 
    For  a discussion  of the  Federal tax status  of income  earned on Michigan
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    In the opinion  of Dickinson,  Wright, Moon,  Van Dusen  & Freeman,  special
Michigan counsel to the Series, under existing law:
 
        The  assets  of  a  Michigan  Trust  will  consist  of  interest-bearing
    obligations issued by or on behalf  of the State of Michigan, and  counties,
    municipalities,  authorities  and  political subdivisions  thereof,  and, in
    limited instances, bonds issued  by Puerto Rico,  the Virgin Islands,  Guam,
    the  Northern  Mariana  Islands or  possessions  of the  United  States (the
    "Michigan Bonds").
 
        Under the Michigan income tax act, the Michigan single business tax act,
    the Michigan intangibles tax  act, the Michigan city  income tax act  (which
    authorizes  the only income tax  ordinance that may be  adopted by cities in
    Michigan), and  under  the  law  which authorizes  a  "first  class"  school
    district  to levy an excise  tax upon income, the  Michigan Insured Trust is
    not subject to tax. The income of the Michigan Insured Trust will be treated
    as the income of the Unitholders and be deemed to have been received by them
    when received by the Michigan Insured Trust.
 
        Interest on the Michigan  Bonds in the Michigan  Insured Trust which  is
    exempt  from  Federal income  tax is  exempt from  Michigan state  and local
    income taxes and from the
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
    Michigan single business tax. Further, any amounts paid under the  insurance
    representing  maturing interest on defaulted obligations held by the Trustee
    will be excludable from Michigan state  and local income taxes and from  the
    Michigan  single business tax if,  and to the same  extent as, such interest
    would have been excludable if paid by the respective issuer.
 
        For purposes  of  the  foregoing Michigan  tax  laws  (corporations  and
    financial  institutions are  not subject to  the Michigan  income tax), each
    Unitholder will  be  considered to  have  received  his pro  rata  share  of
    Michigan  Bond interest when  it is received by  the Michigan Insured Trust,
    and each Unitholder  will have  a taxable  event when  the Michigan  Insured
    Trust  disposes of a Michigan Bond (whether by sale, exchange, redemption or
    payment at maturity) or when the  Unitholder redeems or sells Units. Due  to
    the  requirement that  tax cost be  reduced to reflect  amortization of bond
    premium, under some circumstances a Unitholder may realize taxable gain when
    Units are sold  or redeemed  for an  amount equal  to, or  less than,  their
    original  cost. The tax cost of each  Unit to a Unitholder will be allocated
    for purposes of these Michigan  tax laws in the same  manner as the cost  is
    allocated for Federal income tax purposes.
 
        Pursuant  to the  position of the  Michigan Department of  Treasury in a
    bulletin dated December 19, 1986, reaffirmed  in a bulletin dated March  31,
    1989,  the portion of the Michigan Insured Trust represented by the Michigan
    Bonds will be exempt  from the Michigan Intangibles  Tax. The Department  of
    Treasury  has not indicated a position  with respect to treatment of amounts
    paid under  a policy  of  insurance with  respect  to maturing  interest  on
    defaulted  obligations (which amounts would have  been excludable if paid by
    the respective issuer) for purposes of  determining the income base for  the
    Michigan Intangibles Tax.
 
        If a Unitholder is subject to the Michigan single business tax (i.e., is
    engaged  in a "business activity" as defined in the Michigan single business
    tax act), and has a taxable event  for Federal income tax purposes when  the
    Michigan  Insured Trust sells or exchanges  Michigan Bonds or the Unitholder
    sells or exchanges  Units, such event  may impact on  the adjusted tax  base
    upon  which the single  business tax is  computed. Any capital  gain or loss
    realized from such taxable  event which was included  in the computation  of
    the  Unitholder's Federal taxable income, plus  the portion, if any, of such
    capital gain excluded in such computation and minus the portion, if any,  of
    such  capital loss not  deducted in such  computation for the  year the loss
    occurred, will be included in the  adjusted tax base. The adjusted tax  base
    of  any person  other than  a corporation  is affected  by any  gain or loss
    realized from  the taxable  event  only to  the  extent that  the  resulting
    Federal taxable income is derived from "business activity."
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--MICHIGAN
 
    As  described above, except to the extent the Michigan Insured Trust invests
in temporary investments, the Michigan  Insured Trust will invest  substantially
all of its net assets in Michigan Bonds. The Michigan Insured Trust is therefore
susceptible  to political, economic  or regulatory factors  affecting issuers of
Michigan Bonds.  The  information  set  forth below  is  derived  from  official
statements  prepared in connection with the issuance of Michigan Bonds and other
sources that are generally available  to investors. The information is  provided
as  general information intended to give  a recent historical description and is
not intended
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
to indicate future or continuing trends  in the financial or other positions  of
the State of Michigan (the "State"). This information has not been independently
verified.
 
    There  can  be no  assurance that  current or  future statewide  or regional
economic difficulties, and the  resulting impact on  issuers and other  obligors
with  respect to the Michigan Insured Trust generally, will not adversely affect
the market value of Michigan Bonds held in the portfolio of the Michigan Insured
Trust or the  ability of  particular obligors to  make timely  payments of  debt
service on (or relating to) those obligations.
 
    The  principal sectors of  the State's economy  are manufacturing of durable
goods (including  automobile and  office equipment  manufacturing), tourism  and
agriculture.  As reflected in historical employment figures, the State's economy
has  lessened  its  dependence  upon  durable  goods  manufacturing.  In   1960,
employment  in such  industry accounted for  33% of the  State's workforce. This
figure fell  to  17% by  1992.  However, manufacturing  (including  auto-related
manufacturing)  continues to be an important  part of the State's economy. These
industries are highly cyclical. This  factor could adversely affect the  revenue
streams of the State and its political subdivisions because of its impact on tax
sources, particularly sales taxes, income taxes and single business taxes.
 
    Recently,  as well as historically, the average monthly unemployment rate in
the State has been higher  than the average figures  for the United States.  For
example, for 1992 the average monthly unemployment rate in the State was 8.8% as
compared  to  a  national  average  of  7.4%.  For  1993,  the  average  monthly
unemployment rate in the State was 7% as compared to a national average of 6.8%.
 
    BUDGET.   The  budget  of  the  State  is  a  complete  financial  plan  and
encompasses the revenues and expenditures, both operating and capital outlay, of
the  General Fund and special  revenue funds. The budget  is prepared on a basis
consistent with  generally accepted  accounting principles  (GAAP). The  State's
Fiscal  Year begins on  October 1 and  ends September 30  of the following year.
Under State  law, the  executive budget  recommendations for  any fund  may  not
exceed  the estimated  revenue thereof, and  an itemized  statement of estimated
revenues in each operating  fund must be contained  in an appropriation bill  as
passed  by the Legislature, the total of which may not be less than the total of
all  appropriations  made  from  the  fund  for  that  fiscal  year.  The  State
Constitution  provides that proposed expenditures from  and revenues of any fund
must be in balance and that any prior year's surplus or deficit in any fund must
be included in the succeeding year's budget for that fund.
 
    The State's Constitution limits the amount of total State revenues that  may
be  raised from taxes  and other sources. State  revenues (excluding federal aid
and revenues used for  payment of principal and  interest on general  obligation
bonds)  in  any fiscal  year  are limited  to  a specified  percentage  of State
personal income  in  the prior  calendar  year or  average  of the  prior  three
calendar years, whichever is greater. The State may raise taxes in excess of the
limit in emergency situations.
 
    The  State  finances its  operations through  the  State's General  Fund and
special revenue funds. The General Fund receives revenues of the State that  are
not  specifically required to be included  in the special revenue funds. General
Fund revenues are obtained  approximately 59 percent from  the payment of  State
taxes  and 41  percent from  federal and  non-tax revenue  sources. Tax revenues
credited to the  General Fund include  the State's personal  income tax,  single
business  tax,  use tax,  and  approximately 38%  of  sales tax  collections. In
addition the State levies various  other taxes. Approximately one-half of  total
General Fund
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
expenditures  are made by the State's  Department of Education and Department of
Social Services. Other  significant expenditures from  the General Fund  provide
funds  for law enforcement,  general State government,  debt service and capital
outlays.
 
    Despite modest surplus in the three preceding fiscal years, the State  ended
fiscal  years 1989-90 and  1990-91 with negative balances  of $310.3 million and
$169.4 million, respectively. This  negative balance had  been eliminated as  of
the  end of fiscal year 1991-92, which ended September 30, 1992. The State ended
fiscal year 1992-93 with a projected  balance of $26 million after the  transfer
of $282.6 million to the BSF described below.
 
    The  State budget  for the  1993-94 fiscal year,  which began  on October 1,
1993, was passed by the Legislature in September 1993. This budget passed by the
Legislature totaled $7,955.5 million from General Fund/general purpose revenues.
The Governor  vetoed $2.3  million of  these appropriations.  In December  1993,
supplemental  appropriations  of  $45 million  were  adopted and  signed  by the
Governor.
 
    The  State  also   maintains  the  Counter-Cyclical   Budget  and   Economic
Stabilization  Fund  ("BSF")  which  accumulates balances  during  the  years of
significant economic  growth  and  which  may  be  utilized  during  periods  of
budgetary  shortfalls. The unreserved balance for the BSF for the 1990-91 fiscal
year end was  $182.2 million,  and for  the 1991-92  fiscal year  end was  $20.1
million.  Approximately $282.6 million  was transferred to  the BSF bringing the
accrued balance of the BSF as of September 30, 1993 to $303.4 million.
 
    DEBT.  The State  Constitution limits State general  obligation debt to  (i)
short-term  debt for State operating  purposes which must be  repaid in the same
fiscal year in which it is issued and which cannot exceed 15% of the undedicated
revenues received by the State during the preceding fiscal year, (ii) short  and
long  term debt unlimited  in amount for  the purpose of  making loans to school
districts and (iii) long term debt for voter-approved purposes.
 
    The State has issued and has  outstanding general obligation full faith  and
credit   bonds  for  water  resources,   environmental  protection  program  and
recreation program purposes totalling, as  of September 30, 1993,  approximately
$386  million. In November 1988 the State's voters approved the issuance of $800
million  of   general  obligation   bonds  for   environmental  protection   and
recreational  purposes; of this amount approximately  $440 million remains to be
issued. The State issued  $900 million in general  obligation notes in  February
1993  which matured  on September  30, 1993. The  State issued  $55.8 million in
general obligation school loan notes in April 1994 which will mature on  October
28, 1994.
 
    OTHER  ISSUERS OF  MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL  OBLIGATIONS.   There are  a number of
state agencies, instrumentalities and political  subdivisions of the State  that
issue  bonds,  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 obligations  backed by the full  faith and credit of
the State.
 
    RATINGS.  Currently  the State's general  obligation bonds are  rated A1  by
Moody's, "AA" by S&P and "AA" by Fitch Investors Service, Inc.
 
    LITIGATION.    The State  is a  party to  various legal  proceedings seeking
damages or  injunctive  or other  relief.  In addition  to  routine  litigation,
certain  of these proceedings  could, if unfavorably resolved  from the point of
view of  the  State, substantially  affect  State programs  or  finances.  These
lawsuits  involve  programs  generally  in  the  areas  of  corrections, highway
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
maintenance, social services, tax collection, commerce and budgetary  reductions
to  school  districts and  governmental units  and  court funding.  The ultimate
disposition of these proceedings is not determinable.
 
    PROPERTY  TAX.    The  State   Constitution  limits  the  extent  to   which
municipalities  or political subdivisions may levy  taxes upon real and personal
property through a process that regulates assessments.
 
    On August 19, 1993,  the Governor signed  into law Act  145, Public Acts  of
Michigan,  1993 ("Act 145"),  a measure which  would have significantly impacted
financing of primary and secondary school  operations and which has resulted  in
additional  property tax  and school finance  reform legislation.  Act 145 would
have exempted all  property in  the State of  Michigan from  millage levied  for
local  and intermediate school districts  operating purposes, other than millage
levied for community colleges, effective July 1, 1994. In order to replace local
property tax revenues lost as a result of Act 145, the Michigan Legislature,  in
December  1993, enacted several  statutes which address  property tax and school
finance reform.
 
    The property  tax  and school  finance  reform measures  included  a  ballot
proposal  which was approved by  the voters on March  15, 1994. Effective May 1,
1994, the State sales and use tax was increased from 4% to 6%, the State  income
tax  was decreased from 4.6% to 4.4%,  the cigarette tax was increased from $.25
to $.75 per pack and an additional tax of 16% of the wholesale price was imposed
on certain other tobacco products. A state transfer tax will be levied at a rate
of $3.75 per  $500 of value  transferred in written  instruments recorded  after
January 1, 1995. Beginning in 1994, a state-wide property tax of 6 mills will be
imposed  on  all real  and personal  property currently  subject to  the general
property tax. The ability of school districts to levy property taxes for  school
operating  purposes will be partially restored.  A school board will, with voter
approval, be able to levy up  to the lesser of 18  mills or the number of  mills
levied  in 1993  for school operating  purposes, on  non-homestead property. The
adopted ballot proposal contained additional provisions regarding the ability of
local school districts to levy taxes as well as a limit on assessment  increases
for  each parcel of property, beginning in 1995  to the lesser of 5% or the rate
of inflation. When property is subsequently sold, its assessed value will revert
to the current assessment  level of 50%  of true cash  value. Under the  adopted
ballot  proposal, much of the additional revenue generated by the new taxes will
be dedicated to the State School Aid Fund.
 
    The adopted ballot  proposal contained  a system of  financing local  school
operating  costs relying  upon a foundation  allowance amount which  may vary by
district based upon historical spending levels. State funding would provide each
school district  an amount  equal  to the  difference between  their  foundation
allowance  and the  revenues generated by  their local property  tax levy. Local
school districts would also be entitled  to levy supplemental property taxes  to
generate  additional revenue  if their foundation  allowance is  less than their
historical per pupil expenditures. The proposal also contained provisions  which
allow  for the  levy of a  limited number  of enhancement mills  on regional and
local school district bases.
 
    The adopted ballot proposal will shift  significant portions of the cost  of
local  school  operations from  local school  districts to  the State  and raise
additional State  revenues  to  fund  these  additional  State  expenses.  These
additional  revenues will be included  within the State's constitutional revenue
limitations and may impact the State's  ability to raise additional revenues  in
the future.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
MICHIGAN 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 1995 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.  For
cases  in which more than one state  bracket falls within a Federal bracket, the
highest state bracket is combined with  the Federal bracket. The combined  state
and  Federal tax  brackets shown  reflect the fact  that state  tax payments are
currently deductible for Federal  tax purposes. 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.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS      STATE* AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      21.5   %     6.69    7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96    8.28    8.60    8.92
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      33.5         7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77   10.15   10.53
                 114.7-172.1      34.5         8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92   10.31   10.69
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      36.5         8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63   11.02
                 114.7-172.1      37.5         8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80   11.20
                 172.1-294.6      39.5         8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16   11.57
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      42.0         9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64   12.07
                 172.1-294.6      44.5         9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16   12.61
                  Over 294.6      42.0   2     9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64   12.07
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      48.5        10.19   10.68   11.17   11.65   12.14   12.62   13.11   13.59
                  Over 294.6      45.5   3     9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39   12.84
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS      STATE* AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      21.5   %     6.69    7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96    8.28    8.60    8.92
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      33.5         7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77   10.15   10.53
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      36.5         8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63   11.02
                 114.7-237.2      38.0         8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89   11.29
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      42.5         9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74   12.17
                  Over 237.2      42.0   2     9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64   12.07
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      45.5   3     9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39   12.84
<FN>
- ------------------
* The state tax rate which is used in  the table is based on a 4.4% state personal  income tax rate and a 3.5% tax on  intangible
income.  The combined tax brackets reflect Federal and state income and  state intangibles taxes but do not reflect the effect of
the exemption from local income taxes; accordingly, Michigan residents  subject to such local income taxes would need a  somewhat
higher taxable return than those shown to equal the tax-exempt yield of the Michigan Trust.
      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.
</TABLE>
 
    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
the 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 Trust are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
FEBRUARY 6, 1995
MICHIGAN INSURED TRUST 59
(SERIES 783)
    
 
<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(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      Michigan Municipal Bond Authority, State            2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       512,500
                   Revolving Fund Revenue Bonds, Series 1994,
                   6.50% Due 10/1/14.
    500,000      City of Detroit, Michigan, Water Supply System      2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             408,865
                   Revenue and Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series
                   1993, 5.00% Due 7/1/23. (Original issue
                   discount bonds delivered on or about November
                   1, 1993 at a price of 93.684% of principal
                   amount.)
    500,000      City of Kalamazoo (Michigan), Hospital Finance      2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             501,250
                   Authority, Hospital Revenue Refunding and
                   Improvement Bonds (Bronson Methodist
                   Hospital), Series 1992A, 6.375% Due 5/15/17.
    500,000      City of Lansing, Counties of Ingham and Eaton,      2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             477,735
                   State of Michigan, Sewage Disposal System
                   Revenue and Revenue Refunding Bonds, 1994
                   Series, 5.85% Due 5/1/14.
    500,000      Napoleon Community Schools, Counties of Jackson     2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             531,960
                   and Washtenaw, State of Michigan, 1994 School
                   Building and Site and Refunding Bonds, 7.00%
                   Due 5/1/24. (General Obligation Bonds.)
    500,000      Warren Consolidated Schools, Counties of Macomb     2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             430,130
                   and Oakland, State of Michigan, 1993
                   Refunding Bonds, Series II, 5.25% Due 5/1/21.
                   (General Obligation Bonds.)
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             510,000
                   Bonds of 1994 (General Obligation Bonds),
                   6.45% Due 7/1/17.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,372,440
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 48.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
   
OHIO INSURED TRUST 122
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio of Ohio Insured Trust 122 consists of 6 obligations issued by
entities located in Ohio and one obligation  issued by an entity located in  the
Territory of Puerto Rico. Four Bonds in the Trust are general obligations of the
governmental  entities issuing them and are backed by the taxing powers thereof.
Three Bonds in  the Trust  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  these bonds  are divided  as
follows:  Electrical System Revenue, 2; Health  Care Facility Revenue, 1. All of
the Bonds  in  the  Trust, as  insured,  are  rated AAA  by  Standard  &  Poor's
Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
    
 
   
    At  the  Date of  Deposit, the  average maturity  of the  Bonds in  the Ohio
Insured Trust is 26.3  years. The average  maturity of the Bonds  in a Trust  is
calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such 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 the Bonds in a Trust may  increase or decrease from time to time  as
Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
   
    Approximately  14.3% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 14.3% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds)   are    original   issue    discount   bonds.    See   "GENERAL    TRUST
INFORMATION--ORIGINAL  ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS AND  STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for a
discussion of the  characteristics of  such bonds  and of  the risks  associated
therewith.
    
 
    Approximately  29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in the
Trust consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily  derived
from the sale of electric energy.
 
    For  a discussion of the  risks associated with investments  in the bonds of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds between February  1,
1995  and February 2,  1995. The following  summarizes certain information about
the Bonds as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,296,179       $28,146           $205,750      $3,307,450                 .48%
</TABLE>
 
    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.  An  underwriter  or   underwriting
syndicate  purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive bid
basis as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at  a
profit.  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.
 
   
    Unitholders  may elect  to have  interest distributions  made on  a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the Ohio Insured Trust, less estimated  expenses, is estimated to accrue at  the
rate  of $.01584 per  Unit per day  under the semi-annual  plan of distribution,
$.01578 per Unit per  day under the quarterly  plan of distribution and  $.01570
per  Unit per day under the monthly plan of distribution. It is anticipated that
the amount  of interest  to be  distributed per  Unit in  each year  under  each
    
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
plan  of distribution will initially be substantially equal to the Estimated Net
Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan.
 
    Details of interest distributions per Unit  of the Ohio Insured 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
OHIO INSURED TRUST                                                1995                               PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        3/1            5/1            8/1           11/1
Distribution Date.....................       3/15           5/15           8/15          11/15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .3925(1)                                              $  5.6522
                                                        --------  $.4710 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .3925(1)   $   .9468(2)   $  1.4202      $  1.4202    $  5.6842
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .3925(1)   $   .9504(3)                  $  2.8512    $  5.7032
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 * 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.
(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) The  second distribution  under the  quarterly  distribution plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent  quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3)  The second distribution  under the semi-annual distribution  plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
    The accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn 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.
 
TAX STATUS--OHIO INSURED TRUST
 
    For a discussion of the Federal tax status of income earned on Ohio  Insured
Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    The   Ohio  Insured   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
Series, provided that at all  times at least fifty percent  of the value of  the
total  assets of the Ohio Insured Trust  consist of Ohio Obligations, or similar
obligations of other states or their subdivisions, under existing Ohio law:
 
        The Ohio Insured 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 Ohio Insured  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.
 
        Interest on Obligations held  by the Ohio Insured  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.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
        Proceeds paid under insurance  policies, if any, to  the Trustee of  the
    Ohio  Insured Trust representing maturing  interest on defaulted obligations
    held by the Ohio 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 Ohio  Insured 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.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--OHIO
 
    As  described  above, the  Trust will  invest substantially  all 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 Trust is therefore susceptible to
general  or particular political, economic 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 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 1993 is
11,091,000.
 
    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
15% 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
four years the State rates
    
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
were below the national rates (6.5% versus 6.8% in 1993). 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 Trust portfolio 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 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). In  the next two  fiscal years necessary corrective
steps were taken to respond to lower receipts and higher expenditures in certain
categories than earlier estimated. Those  steps included selected reductions  in
appropriations spending and the transfer of $64 million from the BSF to the GRF.
Reported  June 30, 1991 ending fund balances  were $135.3 million (GRF) and $300
million (BSF).
 
    To allow time to resolve certain budget differences for the latest  complete
biennium,  an interim appropriations act was  enacted effective July 1, 1991; it
included GRF debt service and lease rental appropriations for the entire 1992-93
biennium, while continuing most  other 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 the updated results and forecast in the course of FY 1992, 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. GRF  receipts  significantly  below  original  forecasts  resulted
primarily  from lower collections  of certain taxes,  particularly sales-use and
personal  income  taxes.  Higher  expenditure  levels  came  in  certain  areas,
particularly human services, including Medicaid. 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. As  authorized by the  General Assembly, the  $100.4
million  BSF  balance  and  additional amounts  from  certain  other  funds were
transferred late in the  FY to the  GRF, and adjustments made  in the timing  of
certain tax payments. Other administrative revenue and spending actions resolved
the remaining imbalance.
 
    A  significant GRF shortfall (approximately $520 million) was then projected
for the next  year, FY  1993. It was  addressed by  appropriate legislative  and
administrative  actions.  The Governor  ordered,  effective July  1,  1992, $300
million  in  selected   GRF  spending  reductions.   Subsequent  executive   and
legislative  action  in  December  1992--a  combination  of  tax  revisions  and
additional spending  reductions--resulted  in a  balance  of GRF  resources  and
expenditures for the 1992-93 biennium. The June 30, 1993 ending GRF fund balance
was
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
approximately  $111 million, of which, as a first step to BSF replenishment, $21
million was  deposited  in  the  BSF.  (Based on  June  30,  1994  balances,  an
additional  $260 million  has been  deposited in  the BSF,  which has  a current
balance of $281 million.)
 
    No spending  reductions  were  applied to  appropriations  needed  for  debt
service on or lease rentals relating to any State obligations.
 
    The  GRF appropriations act for the  current 1994-95 biennium was passed and
signed by  the  Governor  on  July  1,  1993.  It  included  all  necessary  GRF
appropriations  for State debt service and  lease rental payments then projected
for the biennium.
 
    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 13 constitutional amendments, the last adopted in 1993, Ohio voters  have
authorized  the incurrence of State  debt and the pledge  of taxes or excises to
its payment.  At January  25, 1995,  $794.4 million  (excluding certain  highway
bonds  payable primarily from highway use  charges) of this debt was outstanding
or awaiting  delivery. The  only such  State debt  then still  authorized to  be
incurred  are 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  time ($38.9  million outstanding); and  (b) of $360  million of obligations
authorized for local infrastructure improvements,  no more than $120 million  of
which  may to  be issued  in any  calendar year  ($728.2 million  outstanding or
awaiting delivery) 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 (no more than $50 million to be issued in any one year).
    
   
    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, over  $4.5 billion of
which were outstanding or awaiting delivery at January 25, 1995.
    
    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 the  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. (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.)
    
 
    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
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
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
in  the  range of  46% in  recent years)  of their  operating moneys  from State
subsidies, but are dependent on local property taxes, and in 107 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 recently
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 has appealed. 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.  Borrowings  under this
program totalled $68.6 million for 44 districts (including $46.6 million for one
district) in FY 1992, $94.5 million for 27 districts (including $75 million  for
one) in FY 1993, and $15.6 million for 28 districts in FY 1994.
    
   
    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 18 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  the 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 1995 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. For
cases in which more than one state  bracket falls within a Federal bracket,  the
highest  state bracket is combined with  the Federal bracket. The combined state
and Federal tax  brackets shown  reflect the fact  that state  tax payments  are
currently  deductible for Federal  tax purposes. 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
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
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-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      19.0   %     6.17    6.48    6.79    7.10    7.41    7.72    8.02    8.33
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      32.5         7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26    9.63   10.00
                 114.7-172.1      33.0         7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33    9.70   10.07
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      36.0         7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16   10.55
                 114.7-172.1      36.5         7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63
                 172.1-294.6      39.0         8.20    8.61    9.02    9.43    9.84   10.25   10.66   11.07
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      42.0         8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64
                 172.1-294.6      44.5         9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16
                  Over 294.6      42.0   2     8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      48.0         9.62   10.10   10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02   12.50   12.98
                  Over 294.6      45.0   3     9.09    9.55   10.00   10.45   10.91   11.36   11.82   12.27
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      19.0   %     6.17    6.48    6.79    7.10    7.41    7.72    8.02    8.33
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      31.5         7.30    7.66    8.03    8.39    8.76    9.12    9.49    9.85
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      36.0         7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16   10.55
                 114.7-237.2      37.0         7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      42.5         8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74
                  Over 237.2      42.0   2     8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      45.0   3     9.09    9.55   10.00   10.45   10.91   11.36   11.82   12.27
<FN>
- ------------------
      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.
</TABLE>
 
    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
the 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 Trust are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
FEBRUARY 6, 1995
OHIO INSURED TRUST 122
(SERIES 783)
    
 
<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(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, State       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       443,735
                   of Ohio, Collateralized Air Quality
                   Development Revenue Refunding Bonds, 1994
                   Series B (The Cincinnati Gas & Electric
                   Company Project), 5.45% Due 1/1/24.
    500,000      Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, State       2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             449,350
                   of Ohio, Pollution Control Revenue Refunding
                   Bonds, 1993 Series B (Ohio Edison Company
                   Project), 5.625% Due 11/15/29.
    500,000      City of Defiance, Ohio, Waterworks System           2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             497,105
                   Improvement Bonds, Series 1994, 6.10% Due
                   12/1/14. (General Obligation Bonds.)
    500,000      County of Lucas, Ohio, Hospital Refunding           2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             444,730
                   Revenue Bonds, Series 1993B (St. Vincent
                   Medical Center), 5.375% Due 8/15/17.
    500,000      Mount Vernon City School District, Ohio, School     2004 at 101        AAA         Aaa             474,890
                   Improvement Bonds, Series 1994, 5.85% Due
                   12/1/19. (Original issue discount bonds
                   delivered on or about May 26, 1994 at a price
                   of 94.323% of principal amount.)(General
                   Obligation Bonds.)
    500,000      County of Sandusky, Ohio, County Building           2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             502,015
                   Bonds, 6.25% Due 12/1/19. (General Obligation
                   Bonds.)
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             512,500
                   Bonds of 1994 (General Obligation Bonds),
                   6.50% Due 7/1/23.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,324,325
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 48.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
NOTES TO SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
 
    (1) Contracts,  which  are  "when-issued"  or  "regular  way"  contracts  or
        contracts having delivery dates beyond the normal settlement date,  have
        been  deposited with the Trustee on the Date of Deposit. The performance
        of such contracts is secured by an irrevocable letter of credit,  issued
        by  a major commercial bank, which  has been deposited with the Trustee.
        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 right, title and interest in and to such 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;  for
        example,  if bond proceeds are not able  to be used as contemplated, the
        project is condemned or sold, or the project is destroyed and  insurance
        proceeds  are used to  redeem the bonds.  Single family mortgage revenue
        bonds and housing authority bonds are  most likely to be called  subject
        to  such provisions, but other bonds may have similar call features. See
        Section 4 and "General Trust Information" in this Section.
 
        The Trustee's determination of the offering prices of Bonds in the  Fund
        may  be  greater or  less than  the  amounts that  may be  received upon
        redemption or  maturity  of  such Bonds.  Subject  to  rules  concerning
        amortization  of bond  premium and of  original issue  discount, gain or
        loss realized  by  the Trustee  on  disposition  of any  Bonds  will  be
        recognized  as taxable capital gain or loss by Unitholders. (See Section
        4.)
 
    (3) See "Description  of  Ratings" herein.  All  the Bonds  in  the  Insured
        Trusts,  as insured by the  Insurer, are rated AAA  by Standard & Poor's
        Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (See Section 5.)
 
    (4) As determined by  Kenny S&P  Evaluation Services,  a division  of J.  J.
        Kenny Co., Inc., on behalf of the Trustee as of the close of business on
        the business day preceding the Date of Deposit. The prices as determined
        by  Kenny S&P Evaluation Services, a division  of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc.,
        have been rounded to the nearest dollar.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     TO THE  BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  OF JOHN  NUVEEN  & CO.  INCORPORATED  AND
     UNITHOLDERS OF NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 783:
    
 
   
       We  have audited  the accompanying  statements of  condition and the
     related schedules of investments at  date of deposit (included in  the
     prospectus  herein)  of  Nuveen  Tax-Exempt  Unit  Trust,  Series  783
     (comprising California Insured Trust  242, Florida Insured Trust  205,
     Michigan  Insured Trust 59 and Ohio Insured Trust 122), as of February
     6, 1995.  These financial  statements are  the responsibility  of  the
     Sponsor.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these
     financial statements based on our audits.
    
 
       We conducted  our  audits  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 statements 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  audits  provide  a
     reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
       In  our  opinion,  the  statements  of  condition  and  the  related
     schedules  of investments at date of deposit referred to above present
     fairly, in all material  respects, the financial  position of each  of
     the  trusts constituting the Nuveen  Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783
     as  of  February  6,  1995,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
     accounting principles.
    
 
                                                        ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
     Chicago, Illinois,
     February 6, 1995.
    
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
                            Statements of Condition
   
                    NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 783
    
   
(California Insured Trust 242, Florida Insured Trust 205, Michigan Insured Trust
                         59 and Ohio Insured Trust 122)
    
   
                             AS OF FEBRUARY 6, 1995
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            CALIFORNIA            FLORIDA            MICHIGAN              OHIO
                                              INSURED             INSURED             INSURED             INSURED
    TRUST PROPERTY                           TRUST 242           TRUST 205           TRUST 59            TRUST 122
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-
 Exempt Bonds, backed by an irrevocable
 letter of credit(1)(2).................  $     3,238,966     $     3,296,522     $     3,372,440     $     3,324,325
Accrued interest to February 6, 1995 on
  underlying Bonds(1)...................           58,245              41,438              41,127              41,333
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,297,211     $     3,337,960     $     3,413,567     $     3,365,658
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
   LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITY:
    Accrued interest to February 6, 1995
      on underlying Bonds(3)............  $        58,245     $        41,438     $        41,127     $        41,333
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided
      interest outstanding (California
      Insured Trust 242 --35,000;
      Florida Insured Trust 205--35,000;
      Michigan Insured Trust 59--35,000;
      Ohio Insured Trust 122-- 35,000)
      Cost to investors(4)..............  $     3,405,838     $     3,466,359     $     3,546,188     $     3,495,594
        Less: Gross underwriting
          commission(5).................         (166,872)           (169,837)           (173,748)           (171,269)
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Net amount applicable to
      investors.........................  $     3,238,966     $     3,296,522     $     3,372,440     $     3,324,325
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,297,211     $     3,337,960     $     3,413,567     $     3,365,658
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
<FN>
(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.
    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 "Schedules of Investments"  herein,
    and their aggregate cost to the Trusts are the same. Such offering prices were determined by Kenny S&P Evaluation Services as
    of the close of business on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See Section 10.) Insurance coverage providing for
    the  timely payment, when due, of all principal  of and interest on the Bonds in  the Insured Trusts 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) Representing, as set forth in Section 8, advancement by the Trustee of an amount equal to the accrued Bond interest as of the
    Date of Deposit from the later of the last payment date on the Bonds or the date of issuance thereof.
(4) Aggregate Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed as set forth under Section 6.
(5) The gross underwriting commission has been calculated on the assumption that the Units offered by this prospectus are sold in
    single transactions involving less than $50,000 or 500 Units. At this level, the sales charge is 4.90% of the Public Offering
    Price in the case of National and State Trusts, 4.25% thereof  in the case of Long Intermediate Trusts, 3.90% in the case  of
    Intermediate  Trusts, 3.00% in the case  of Short Intermediate Trusts and  2.50% in the case of  Short Term Trusts. In single
    transactions involving 500 Units or more, the sales charge is reduced. (See Section 6.)
</TABLE>
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
GENERAL TRUST INFORMATION
 
    RISK FACTORS.
 
    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 above,  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  "Economic
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
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
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
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
future demand for electricity in certain  areas of the country, the  limitations
on  operations  and increased  costs  and delays  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
 
                                      A-4
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
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
Section 11, " What Is The Tax Status of Unitholders".)
 
    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
 
                                      A-6
<PAGE>
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.
 
4.  COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS
 
Each  Trust initially consists  of delivery statements  relating to contracts to
purchase Bonds (or of such Bonds) as are listed under "Schedules of Investments"
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 the 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. Normally,
"regular way"  contracts are  settled and  the Bonds  delivered to  the  Trustee
within  a relatively  short period  of time.  However, 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 does not believe it  is likely, one or more of the  issuers
of such Bonds might decide not to proceed with such offerings. 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 herein 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 herein (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 Regarding the Trusts."
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
Schedules of Investments.
 
    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. The Replacement Bonds must be purchased 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 (i)  must
satisfy  the criteria previously described for  Bonds originally included in the
Trust and, with respect  to Bonds purchased  for a State  Trust, shall have  the
benefit of an exemption from state taxation of interest to an extent equal to or
greater  than that of  the Bonds they  replace, (ii) must  have a fixed maturity
date after the date of purchase of  not less than approximately 15 years in  the
case  of National or State Trusts, approximately 11  years in the case of a Long
Intermediate Trust, approximately 5 years in  the case of Intermediate or  State
Intermediate  Trusts, approximately 3 years in  the case of a Short Intermediate
Trust and
 
                                      A-7
<PAGE>
approximately 1 year in the case of a  Short Term Trust, but not later than  the
maturity date of the Failed Bonds, (iii) must be acquired at a cost to the Trust
equal  to the cost of the same principal  amount of Bonds provided in the failed
contract and have  a current  return and  yield to  maturity not  less than  the
current  return and yield to maturity of the  Failed Bonds and (iv) 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; i.e., the Trust will have  no
managerial power to take advantage of market variation to improve a Unitholder's
investment.
 
    To  the extent the right of  limited substitution described in the preceding
paragraph shall not  be utilized  to acquire  Replacement Bonds  for the  entire
principal amount of Failed Bonds, 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 "Schedules of  Investments" and in most
cases pursuant to sinking fund, special or extraordinary redemption  provisions.
A  bond  subject to  optional  call is  one which  is  subject to  redemption or
refunding prior to maturity at the option of the issuer. A refunding is a method
by which a bond issue is redeemed, at  or before maturity, by the proceeds of  a
new  bond  issue. A  bond subject  to sinking  fund redemption  is one  which is
subject to  partial call  from time  to time  from a  fund accumulated  for  the
scheduled  retirement of  a portion  of an issue  prior to  maturity. Special or
extraordinary redemption  provisions may  provide  for redemption  of all  or  a
portion  of an  issue upon  the occurrence  of certain  circumstances related to
defaults or unanticipated changes  in circumstances. Events  that may permit  or
require  the special or extraordinary redemption of bonds include, among others:
substantial damage to or  destruction of the project  for which the proceeds  of
the  bonds were used; exercise by a local, state or federal governmental unit of
its power of eminent domain to take all or substantially all of the project  for
which  the  proceeds of  the bonds  were  used; a  final determination  that the
interest on the bonds  is taxable; changes in  the economic availability of  raw
materials,  operating supplies or  facilities or technological  or other changes
which render the operation of  the project for which  the proceeds of the  bonds
were  used uneconomical; changes in law  or an administrative or judicial decree
which render the performance  of the agreement under  which the proceeds of  the
bonds  were made  available to  finance the  project impossible  or which create
unreasonable burdens or which impose  excessive liabilities, such as taxes,  not
imposed  on the date the bonds are issued on the issuer of the bonds or the user
of the  proceeds  of the  bonds;  an  administrative or  judicial  decree  which
requires  the cessation of a  substantial part of the  operations of the project
financed with the proceeds of the bonds;
 
                                      A-8
<PAGE>
an overestimate of the costs of the project to be financed with the proceeds  of
the  bonds resulting in excess proceeds which may be applied to redeem bonds; or
an underestimate of  a source of  funds securing the  bonds resulting in  excess
funds which may be applied to redeem bonds. The Sponsor is unable to predict all
of  the circumstances which may result in  such redemption of an issue of Bonds.
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. Redemption pursuant to optional call provisions  is
more  likely to  occur, and  redemption pursuant to  sinking fund  or special or
extraordinary redemption provisions may occur,  when the Bonds have an  offering
side  evaluation which  represents a  premium over  par. Redemption  pursuant to
optional call provisions  may be,  and redemption  pursuant to  sinking fund  or
special or extraordinary redemption provisions is likely to be, at a price equal
to the par value of the bonds without any premium (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 Sections  11 and 13  and the "Schedules  of
Investments.")
 
    CERTAIN  TAX  MATTERS;  LITIGATION.   Certain  of  the Bonds  in  each Trust
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.
 
                                      A-9
<PAGE>
5.  WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?
 
INSURANCE ON BONDS IN INSURED TRUSTS
 
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 Bonds  from  the Municipal  Bond Investors
Assurance Corporation (the "Insurer"). Some of  the Bonds in each 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 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). The  Insurer will  be  responsible for  such payments,  less  any
amounts  received by the holders or owners of the Bonds from any trustee for the
bond issuers or  from any other  sources other than  the Insurer. The  Insurer's
policies  relating to small  industrial development bonds  and pollution control
revenue bonds also guarantee the full and complete payments required to be  made
by  or on behalf  of an issuer  of Bonds pursuant  to the terms  of the Bonds if
there occurs an event which results in the loss of the tax-exempt status of  the
interest  on such Bonds,  including principal, interest  or premium payments, if
any, as and when thereby required. The Insurer has indicated that its  insurance
policies  do not insure the payment of  principal or interest on bonds which are
not required to be paid by the issuer thereof because the bonds were not validly
issued; as  indicated  under  "What  is the  Tax  Status  of  Unitholders?"  the
respective  issuing authorities have received  opinions of bond counsel relating
to the valid issuance of each of the Bonds in the Insured Trusts. The  Insurer's
policy  also does not insure against non-payment  of principal of or interest on
the Bonds resulting from the insolvency, negligence or any other act or omission
of the trustee or other paying agent for the Bonds. The policy is not covered by
the Property/ Casualty Insurance  Security Fund specified in  Article 76 of  the
New  York  Insurance Law.  The policies  are  non-cancellable and  the insurance
premiums have been fully paid on or prior to the Date of Deposit, either by  the
Sponsor or, if a policy has been obtained by a Bond issuer, by such issuer.
 
    Upon  notification from  the trustee  for any bond  issuer or  any holder or
owner of the Bonds or coupons that such trustee or paying agent has insufficient
funds to pay any  principal or interest  in full when due,  the Insurer will  be
obligated  to deposit funds  promptly with State Street  Bank and Trust Company,
N.A., New York, New York, as fiscal  agent for the Insurer, sufficient to  fully
cover the deficit. If notice of nonpayment is received on or after the due date,
the  Insurer will provide for payment  within one business day following receipt
of the notice. Upon payment  by the Insurer of  any Bonds, coupons, or  interest
payments,  the Insurer shall succeed  to the rights of  the owner of such Bonds,
coupons or interest payments with respect thereto.
 
    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 and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
 
                                      A-10
<PAGE>
    As  of December  31, 1993  the Insurer had  admitted assets  of $3.1 billion
(audited), total liabilities of  $2.1 billion (audited),  and total capital  and
surplus  of  $978  million  (audited) determined  in  accordance  with statutory
accounting  practices   prescribed   or  permitted   by   insurance   regulatory
authorities.  As of September 30, 1994, the  Insurer had admitted assets of $3.3
billion (unaudited), total  liabilities of $2.2  billion (unaudited), and  total
capital  and surplus of  $1.1 billion (unaudited)  determined in accordance with
statutory accounting practices prescribed  or permitted by insurance  regulatory
authorities.  Copies of the Insurer's year  end financial statements prepared in
accordance with statutory accounting practices  are available from the  Insurer.
The address of the Insurer is 113 King Street, Armonk, New York 10504.
 
    Each  insurance company comprising the Association will be severally and not
jointly obligated  under  the Association  policy  in the  following  respective
percentages:  The  AEtna  Casualty  and  Surety  Company,  33%;  Fireman's  Fund
Insurance Company, 30%;  The Travelers Indemnity  Company, 15%; AEtna  Insurance
Company  (now  known  as CIGNA  Property  and  Casualty Company),  12%;  and The
Continental Insurance Company, 10%.  As a several  obligor, each such  insurance
company  will be  obligated only to  the extent  of its percentage  of any claim
under the  Association  policy and  will  not be  obligated  to pay  any  unpaid
obligation  of any  other member  of the  Association. Each  insurance company's
participation is backed by all of its assets. However, each insurance company is
a multiline insurer involved in several lines of insurance other than  municipal
bond  insurance, and the assets of each insurance company also secure all of its
other insurance policy and surety bond obligations.
 
    The following table sets forth certain unaudited financial information  with
respect  to  the  five  insurance  companies  comprising  the  Association.  The
statistics, which have been furnished by the Association, are as reported by the
insurance  companies  to  the  New  York  State  Insurance  Department  and  are
determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles. No representation
is  made herein as to the accuracy or  adequacy of such information or as to the
absence of material adverse changes in  such information subsequent to the  date
thereof.  In addition,  these numbers  are subject to  revision by  the New York
State Insurance Department which, if revised, could either increase or  decrease
the amounts.
 
                      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>
 
    Standard   &  Poor's  Corporation  rates  all  new  issues  insured  by  the
Association "AAA" Prime Grade.
 
    Moody's Investors Service rates all  bond issues insured by the  Association
"Aaa"  and  short term  loans  "MIG 1",  both designated  to  be of  the highest
quality.
 
                                      A-11
<PAGE>
    Each such rating should be evaluated  independently of any other rating.  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 Association 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.
 
    Moody's Investors Service rates all bond issues insured by the Insurer "Aaa"
and short-term loans "MIG 1," both designated to be of the highest quality.
 
    Standard & Poor's  Ratings Group,  a division  of McGraw  Hill ("Standard  &
Poor's") rates all new issues insured by the Insurer "AAA" Prime Grade."
 
    The  Moody's Investors  Service rating  of the  Insurer should  be evaluated
independently of the  Standard & Poor's  Corporation rating of  the Insurer.  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  (See  "Description  of
Ratings.")  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.
 
    Because  the insurance on the  Bonds 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.
 
INSURANCE ON CERTAIN BONDS IN 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
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"),  Municipal  Bond  Investors  Assurance  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
 
                                      A-12
<PAGE>
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.
 
6.  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
Trustee) plus a sales charge of 5.152%  of the aggregate offering prices in  the
case  of National and State  Trusts, 4.439% of the  aggregate offering prices in
the case of Long Intermediate Trusts, 4.058% of the aggregate offering prices in
the case of Intermediate Trusts, 3.093% of the aggregate offering prices in  the
case of Short Intermediate Trusts and 2.564% of the aggregate offering prices in
the  case of Short  Term Trusts, 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. This  computation produces a gross underwriting
profit equal to 4.90% of the Public  Offering Price in the case of National  and
State  Trusts,  4.25%  of  the  Public  Offering  Price  in  the  case  of  Long
Intermediate Trusts,  3.90%  of  the  Public  Offering  Price  in  the  case  of
Intermediate  Trusts, 3.00% of  the Public Offering  Price in the  case of Short
Intermediate Trusts and 2.50% of the Public Offering Price in the case of  Short
Term Trusts.
 
    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 described herein in
the primary offering period  or units of any  other series of Nuveen  Tax-Exempt
Unit  Trusts in the primary 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 table
based on the amount of intended  aggregate purchases as expressed in the  letter
of  intent. 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 United States Trust
Company of New York 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
 
                                      A-13
<PAGE>
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      LONG INTERMEDIATE
                                                               TRUSTS                  TRUSTS           INTERMEDIATE TRUSTS
                                                       ----------------------  ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>
                                                         PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT
                                                           OF        OF NET        OF        OF NET        OF        OF NET
                                                        OFFERING     AMOUNT     OFFERING     AMOUNT     OFFERING     AMOUNT
                  NUMBER OF UNITS*                        PRICE     INVESTED      PRICE     INVESTED      PRICE     INVESTED
- -----------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------
Less than 500........................................        4.90%      5.152%       4.25%      4.439%       3.90%      4.058%
500 but less than 1,000..............................        4.75       4.987        4.15       4.330        3.70       3.842
1,000 but less than 2,500............................        4.50       4.712        3.85       4.004        3.50       3.627
2,500 but less than 5,000............................        4.25       4.439        3.60       3.734        3.25       3.359
5,000 but less than 10,000...........................        3.50       3.627        3.35       3.466        3.00       3.093
10,000 but less than 25,000..........................        3.00       3.093        3.00       3.093        2.75       2.828
25,000 but less than 50,000..........................        2.50       2.564        2.50       2.564        2.50       2.564
50,000 or more.......................................        2.00       2.041        2.00       2.041        2.00       2.041
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         SHORT INTERMEDIATE
                                                               TRUSTS            SHORT TERM TRUSTS
                                                       ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                    <C>          <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, adjusting  the total to  reflect the amount  of any cash  held in  or
advanced  to the principal account  of the Trust and  dividing the result by the
number of Units then outstanding. For  purposes of this calculation, Bonds  will
be  deemed to mature on  their stated maturity dates  unless: (a) the Bonds have
been called for redemption or funds or securities have been placed in escrow  to
redeem  them on  an earlier  call date, in  which case  such call  date shall be
deemed to be the date upon which they mature; or (b) such Bonds are subject to a
"mandatory put," in which case such mandatory put date shall be deemed to be the
date upon  which  they  mature.  Any assumptions  regarding  maturity  made  for
purposes  of  determining the  appropriate  sales charge  in  no way  predict or
guarantee the actual remaining life of a given 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. In  the course  of regularly
appraising the  value  of Bonds  in  each Trust,  the  Sponsor will  attempt  to
estimate  the date on which a Trust's value  will fall below the 20% level based
on anticipated bond events over a five year period, including maturities, escrow
calls and  current  calls or  refundings,  assuming certain  market  rates.  The
Sponsor  intends from time to time to recommend that certain Trusts whose values
 
                                      A-14
<PAGE>
have fallen or are anticipated to fall  below the 20% level be terminated  based
on  certain criteria which  could adversely affect  the Trust's diversification.
Once the Sponsor has determined that a  Trust's value has or may fall below  the
20%  level within a five-year period, for purposes of computing the sales charge
using the table set forth below, the maturity of each bond in such Trust will be
deemed to be the earlier of the estimated termination date of the Trust, or  the
actual  date used  when pricing the  bond under  Municipal Securities Rulemaking
Board rules and interpretations issued thereunder.
 
    The effect of this method of sales charge calculation will be that different
sales charge rates will  be applied to  the various Bonds  in a Trust  portfolio
based  upon  the maturities  of  such Bonds,  in  accordance with  the following
schedule. 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>
                                            $50,000     $100,000     $250,000     $500,000     $1,000,000     $2,500,000
                                UNDER         TO           TO           TO           TO            TO             TO
YEARS TO MATURITY              $50,000      $99,999     $249,999     $499,999     $999,999     $2,499,999     $4,999,999
- ---------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------
Less than 1................           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%
2 but less than 3..........       2.041        1.937        1.833        1.729        1.626         1.420          1.225
3 but less than 4..........       2.564        2.433        2.302        2.175        2.041         1.781          1.546
4 but less than 5..........       3.093        2.961        2.828        2.617        2.459         2.175          1.883
5 but less than 7..........       3.627        3.433        3.239        3.093        2.881         2.460          2.165
7 but less than 10.........       4.167        3.951        3.734        3.520        3.239         2.828          2.489
10 but less than 13........       4.712        4.467        4.221        4.004        3.788         3.253          2.842
13 but less than 16........       5.263        4.988        4.712        4.439        4.167         3.627          3.169
16 or more.................       5.820        5.542        5.263        4.987        4.603         4.004          3.500
 
<CAPTION>
 
<S>                          <C>
 
                              $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY               OR MORE
- ---------------------------  -------------
Less than 1................            0
1 but less than 2..........         .750%
2 but less than 3..........        1.030
3 but less than 4..........        1.310
4 but less than 5..........        1.590
5 but less than 7..........        1.870
7 but less than 10.........        2.150
10 but less than 13........        2.430
13 but less than 16........        2.710
16 or more.................        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). For purposes of illustration, the sales charge on a Trust  consisting
entirely  of Bonds maturing  in 13 to  16 years would  be 5% (5.263%  of the net
amount invested); that on a Trust consisting entirely of Bonds maturing in  five
to  seven years would be 3.5% (3.627% of the net amount invested); and that on a
Trust consisting entirely of Bonds maturing in three to four years would be 2.5%
(2.564% 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.
 
    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.
 
    As  more fully set forth  in Section 8, accrued  interest from the preceding
Record Date to, but not including, the settlement date of the transaction  (five
business  days after  purchase) will  be added to  the Public  Offering Price to
determine the purchase price of Units.
 
                                      A-15
<PAGE>
    The above graduated sales charges 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 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
Section 17)  by  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, and by 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.  Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Prospectus, investors and bank trust departments purchasing
Units through this program will not receive sales charge reductions for quantity
purchases.
 
    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 approximately 1% to 2% more than the
BID prices of such Bonds  in the case of  National, Long Intermediate and  State
Trusts,  3/4%  to 1  1/2% in  the  case of  Intermediate and  Short Intermediate
Trusts, and  1/2% to  3/4% in  the case  of Short  Term Trusts.  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 Section 16.)
 
7.  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
 
                                      A-16
<PAGE>
change  at  any time,  which  are based  upon  the BID  prices  of Bonds  in the
respective portfolios of the Trusts. If the supply of Units of any of the Trusts
of this Series exceeds  demand, or for some  other business reason, the  Sponsor
may discontinue purchases of Units of such Trust at such prices. UNITHOLDERS WHO
WISH  TO DISPOSE OF THEIR UNITS SHOULD INQUIRE OF THE TRUSTEE OR THEIR BROKER AS
TO THE  CURRENT  REDEMPTION PRICE  (SEE  SECTION  19). 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 (five business days after purchase) as the Trustee
can complete the mechanics of registration. Normally, Certificates, if any,  are
mailed  by  the  Trustee 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 Section 19.)
 
    Each Unit  of each  respective Trust  initially offered  by this  Prospectus
represents  that fractional  undivided interest  in such  Trust as  is set forth
under "Essential Information Regarding the Trusts." 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.
 
8.  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.  Interest
accrues  to the  benefit of Unitholders  commencing with the  settlement date of
their purchase transaction.
 
    Accrued interest does not include accrual of original issue discount on zero
coupon bonds, Stripped Obligations or other original issue discount bonds.  (See
"Summary  of Portfolios--General Trust Information" and  "What Is The Tax Status
of Unitholders.")
 
    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, when the
Sponsor sells Units of a  Trust, the amount of accrued  interest to be added  to
the  Public Offering Price to determine the  purchase price of the Units of such
Trust purchased by an investor will include only accrued interest from the  Date
of  Deposit to,  but not  including, the  date of  settlement of  the investor's
purchase (five 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
 
                                      A-17
<PAGE>
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 Sections  3 and 13.) As  Bonds
mature,  or are redeemed or sold, the  accrued interest applicable to such bonds
is collected and subsequently distributed  to Unitholders. Unitholders who  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 fifth business day
following the date of sale or tender.
 
9.  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  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  to a
specified date of any premium over or discount from the par (maturity) value  in
the  bond's  purchase  price. In  calculating  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. Once the average portfolio yield is computed,
this figure is then reduced to reflect estimated expenses and the effect of  the
maximum  sales  charge  paid  by  investors.  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 Trust
may experience expenses and  portfolio changes different  from those assumed  in
the calculation of Estimated Long Term
 
                                      A-18
<PAGE>
Return.  There thus can  be no assurance  that the Estimated  Current Returns or
Estimated Long Term  Returns quoted  herein will be  realized in  the future.  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  "AMENDMENT AND
TERMINATION OF  INDENTURE." 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.
 
    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 Regarding
the Trusts" and Sections 4 and 11.)
 
    For a statement of the Net Annual Interest Income per Unit under the monthly
plan of  distribution,  and Estimated  Long  Term Yield  and  Estimated  Current
Returns based on the Public Offering Prices of the Trusts in this Series, all as
of  the day prior to  the Date of Deposit,  see "Essential Information Regarding
the Trusts."
 
10.  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 Section 5).
 
    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 Section  3.)  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.
 
11.  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
"Summary  of  Portfolios--  Tax Status"  for  the respective  State  Trust. (See
Sections 2 and 3.) Neither the Sponsor nor its
 
                                      A-19
<PAGE>
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.
 
    Taxpayers  must  disclose  on  their  Federal  tax  returns  the  amount  of
tax-exempt  interest  earned  during  the  year.  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 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.
 
    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
        have been so excludable if
 
                                      A-20
<PAGE>
        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 Section 3.
 
    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 redemption of Units in a Trust  by a Unitholder would result in each  of
the  remaining Unitholders of said Trust owning a greater proportionate interest
in the remaining assets  of said Trust. Although  present law does not  directly
address  this matter, it  would appear reasonable  that a remaining Unitholder's
tax basis in  his Units would  include his proportionate  share of any  proceeds
received by the Trust on the sale of bonds which were not distributed to him but
were  instead used by  the Trust to redeem  Units and that his  tax basis in the
remaining assets of the  Trust would accordingly be  increased by such share  of
proceeds, based on the relative fair market value of the remaining assets of the
Trust as of the date of such redemption.
 
    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. The  accrual of  tax-exempt original  issue discount  on zero  coupon
bonds  and other original issue discount bonds will result in an increase in the
Unitholder's basis in  such obligations and,  accordingly, in his  basis in  his
Units.
 
    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). 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 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.
 
    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
 
                                      A-21
<PAGE>
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.
 
    In  general,  each  issue of  bonds  in  the Trusts  is  subject  to certain
post-issuance requirements which must  be met in order  for the interest on  the
Bonds to be and remain exempt from Federal income taxation. Bond counsel to each
issuer generally has opined that, assuming continuing compliance by such issuers
with  certain covenants, interest on such Bonds  will continue to be exempt from
Federal income taxation (other than with respect to the application to corporate
Unitholders of the alternative  minimum tax or the  Superfund Tax, as  discussed
below).
 
    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.
 
    For taxpayers  other  than corporations,  net  capital gains  are  presently
subject  to a maximum tax  rate of 28 percent. However,  it should be noted that
legislative proposals are introduced from time to time that affect tax rates and
could affect relative differences at which ordinary income and capital gains are
taxed.
 
    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 SECTION  3, 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.
 
12.  WHAT ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?
 
No  annual advisory fee is charged the  Trusts by the Sponsor. The Sponsor does,
however, receive a fee  of $0.17 per  annum per $1,000  principal amount of  the
underlying Bonds in
 
                                      A-22
<PAGE>
each  Trust for regularly evaluating the  Bonds and for maintaining surveillance
over the portfolio. (See Section 16.)
 
    The Trustee receives for ordinary recurring services an annual fee for  each
plan  of  distribution for  each Trust  as set  forth in  "Essential Information
Regarding the Trusts."  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" 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.
 
    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.
 
    The Sponsor has borne all costs of creating and establishing the Trusts. The
following  are 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.
 
13.  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
 
                                      A-23
<PAGE>
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.
 
    Details of distributions  per Unit  of each  Trust under  the various  plans
based upon estimated Net Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit are shown
in  the tables appearing in  Section 3. The amount  of the regular distributions
will remain the same so long as  each Trust portfolio remains the same and  fees
and expenses remain the same, and will generally change when Bonds are redeemed,
mature or are sold or when fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
    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 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 Section 18.) If no notice is received in proper form by the
Trustee, the Unitholder  will be  deemed to have  elected to  continue the  same
plan.
 
    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.
 
    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
 
                                      A-24
<PAGE>
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 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. (See Section 19.)
 
    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.
 
14.  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.
 
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
 
                                      A-25
<PAGE>
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  Special Bond
Portfolio, 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 who are residents of the
 
                                      A-26
<PAGE>
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
 
                                      A-27
<PAGE>
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.
 
    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 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.
 
15.  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 and, if any, 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.
 
                                      A-28
<PAGE>
16.  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.
 
17.  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, and  Units of State Trusts
only in the state for which the Trust is named and selected other states.
 
    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.
 
    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.
 
                                      A-29
<PAGE>
    The  Sponsor currently intends  to maintain a secondary  market for Units of
each Trust. See  Section 7.  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 Section 6, 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 Section 6).
 
    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 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.
 
    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.
 
18.  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
 
                                      A-30
<PAGE>
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.
 
    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 corporate trust  office in New York
City, 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.
 
    The  indemnification protects the  Trustee, Sponsor, and  Trust from risk if
the original Certificate is presented for transfer or redemption by a person who
purchased it  in good  faith,  for value  and without  notice  of any  fraud  or
irregularity.
 
    This  indemnification  must  be in  the  form  of an  Open  Penalty  Bond of
Indemnification. The premium for  such an indemnity bond  may vary from time  to
time,  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.
 
19.  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 corporate trust office in New York City (redemptions of 1,000 Units or  more
will require a signature guarantee), (2) in the
 
                                      A-31
<PAGE>
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  in Section  18 above,  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.  In order to effect a redemption  of Units evidenced by a Certificate, a
Unitholder must tender the  Certificate to the  Trustee or provide  satisfactory
indemnity  required in  connection with  lost, stolen  or destroyed Certificates
(See Section 18). 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. If  the telephone redemption  request is received  prior to 4:00
p.m. eastern time,  the Unitholder  will be entitled  to receive  for each  Unit
tendered  the  Redemption  Price  as determined  above.  A  telephone redemption
request received after  4:00 p.m. eastern  time will be  treated as having  been
received  the following  business day.  The redemption  proceeds will  be mailed
within seven calendar days following the telephone redemption request. Telephone
redemptions are limited to 1,000 Units or  less. 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 seventh calendar day following the date of tender, or if the seventh
calendar day is not a business day, on the first business day prior thereto, 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  fifth  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.  Such  value  will vary  with  market and  credit  conditions, including
changes in interest rate  levels. Unitholders should check  with the Trustee  or
their broker to determine the Redemption Price before tendering Units.
 
    While the Trustee has the power to determine Redemption Price when Units are
tendered,  the authority has by  practice been delegated by  the Trustee to John
Nuveen & Co.  Incorporated, which  determines the  Redemption Price  on a  daily
basis.
 
    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 Section 21.) Units so redeemed shall be cancelled.
 
                                      A-32
<PAGE>
    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% to  2%  of
principal  amount in the case of Bonds  in National, Long Intermediate and State
Trusts, 3/4%  to  1  1/2% in  the  case  of Bonds  in  Intermediate,  and  Short
Intermediate  Trusts and 1/2% to 3/4% in the case of Bonds in Short Term Trusts.
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 difference between the aggregate offering prices of  the
Bonds  in each Trust  and the aggregate  bid prices thereof  on the business day
prior to  the Date  of Deposit  is shown  in the  discussion of  specific  trust
matters.
 
    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 31% 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."
 
20.  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 Section 19.) 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.
 
    The Public Offering  Price upon  resale of any  Units thus  acquired by  the
Sponsor  will be  calculated in accordance  with the procedure  described in the
then currently effective prospectus relating to such Units. Any profit resulting
from the resale of  such Units will  belong to the  Sponsor which likewise  will
bear  any loss resulting from a lower  Public Offering Price or Redemption Price
subsequent to its acquisition of such Units.
 
                                      A-33
<PAGE>
21.  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  the "Schedules  of Investments"  and "General  Trust  Information"
under Section 3 for a discussion of call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
    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.
 
    In connection with its  determination as to the  sale or liquidation of  any
Bonds,  the Sponsor  will consider the  Bond's then current  rating, but because
such ratings are the opinions of the rating agencies as to the quality of  Bonds
they  undertake to rate and not absolute  standards of quality, the Sponsor will
exercise its independent judgment as to Bond creditworthiness.
 
    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 Section 4 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.
 
22.  INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUSTEE
 
The Trustee is United States Trust Company of New York, with its principal place
of business at 114 West 47th Street, New York, New York 10036 and its  corporate
trust  office at  770 Broadway,  New York, New  York 10003.  United States Trust
Company of New York, established in  1853, has, since its organization,  engaged
primarily  in the  management of trust  and agency accounts  for individuals and
corporations. The Trustee is a member of the New York Clearing House Association
and is subject to supervision and examination by the Superintendent of Banks  of
the  State of New York, the Federal  Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve  System. In connection with the storage  and
handling  of certain  Bonds deposited  in the  Trusts, the  Trustee may  use the
services of The
 
                                      A-34
<PAGE>
Depository Trust Company. These services would include safekeeping of the  Bonds
and  coupon-clipping,  computer book-entry  transfer and  institutional delivery
services. The  Depository  Trust Company  is  a limited  purpose  trust  company
organized  under the  Banking Law  of the  State of  New York,  a member  of the
Federal Reserve System  and a  clearing agency registered  under the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
 
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.
 
    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.
 
23.  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
 
                                      A-35
<PAGE>
insured  trusts.  The  Sponsor  is  also  principal  underwriter  of  the Nuveen
Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., the Nuveen Tax-Exempt 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-Free
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 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
 
                                      A-36
<PAGE>
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.
 
    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  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.
 
24.  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 Section 4 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 Regarding the Trusts.") 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
 
                                      A-37
<PAGE>
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
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
under Section 3. 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 Statements of Condition and Schedules of Investments at Date of  Deposit
included   in  this  Prospectus  have  been  audited  by  Arthur  Andersen  LLP,
independent public accountants, as indicated in their report in this Prospectus,
and are included herein in reliance upon  the authority of said firm as  experts
in giving said report.
 
                                      A-38
<PAGE>
                            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.
 
- ----------
*As published by the rating companies.
 
                                      A-39
<PAGE>
    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.
 
    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  Corporation'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
 
                                      A-40
<PAGE>
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.
 
    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.
 
                                      A-41
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-42
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-43
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-44
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>                <S>        <C>
           NUVEEN             Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
                           PROSPECTUS
                           140,000 Units
                           California Insured Trust 242
                           Florida Insured Trust 205
                           Michigan Insured Trust 59
                           Ohio Insured Trust 122
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>                 <S>        <C>
            NUVEEN             Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
           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             United States Trust Company
                               of New York
                               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 supplementary 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.
 
   
   783
    
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
California Insured  Trust 242  which  is incorporated  in the  Prospectus  dated
February  6,  1995  and  is  qualified in  its  entirety  by  reference  to such
prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               Jan-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                    Jan-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,212,657
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,238,966
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        58,245
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,297,211
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            58,245
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  58,245
<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>                                                      3,238,966
<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>                                                 92.54
<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 Florida
Insured Trust 205 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated February 6, 1995
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               Jan-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                    Jan-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,268,847
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,296,522
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        41,438
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,337,960
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            41,438
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  41,438
<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>                                                      3,296,522
<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>                                                 94.19
<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 Michigan
Insured  Trust 59 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated February 6, 1995
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               Jan-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                    Jan-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,348,657
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,372,440
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        41,127
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,413,567
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            41,127
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  41,127
<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>                                                      3,372,440
<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>                                                 96.36
<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 122 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated February 6, 1995
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               Jan-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                    Jan-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,296,179
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,324,325
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        41,333
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,365,658
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            41,333
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  41,333
<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>                                                      3,324,325
<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>                                                 94.98
<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>

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) On the cover page, in the index and on the last page of the printed
document, solid vertical bars will appear.
   (3) In the printed document, footnote symbols may include a "dagger" or
multiple "dagger".  The "dagger" symbol is represented as # in the electronic
document.
   (4) 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:

    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

B.  This amendment of Registration Statement comprises the following papers 
and documents:

              The facing sheet
              The Prospectus

              The signatures

              Consents of Independent Public
              Accountants and Counsel as indicated

              Exhibits as listed on page S-5


<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

    The Registrant, Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783 hereby
identifies Series 401, 507, 512, 515, 517, 519 and 723 of the Nuveen 
Tax-Exempt 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-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783 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 2/06/95.

 
                                NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 783
                                (Registrant)

                                By JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                                (Depositor)


                       
                                By: Larry Woods Martin
                                    _________________________________
                                    Vice President


                        
                           Attest:  Morrison C. Warren
                                    __________________________________
                                    Assistant Secretary


<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:


    SIGNATURE                     TITLE*                       DATE

Richard J. Franke       Chairman, Board of Directors  )
                        Chief Executive Officer and   )
                        Director                      )
                                                      )
Donald E. Sveen         President, Chief Operating    )
                        Officer and Director          )
                                                      )
                                             
Anthony T. Dean         Executive Vice President      ) Larry Woods Martin
                        and Director                  ) Attorney-In-Fact**
                                                      )
Timothy T. Schwertfeger Executive Vice President      )
                        and Director                  )

O. Walter Renfftlen     Vice President and Controller )
                        (Principal Accounting Officer))
                                                      )
                                                      )2/06/95
___________________

*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. Franke, 
Sveen, Renfftlen, Dean and Schwertfeger with the Amendment to the 
Registration Statement on Form S-6 of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, 
Series 671 (File No. 33-49175). 



<PAGE>

783

                   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
2/06/95


                         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 CORPORATION

    The consent of Standard + Poor's Corporation 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.

<PAGE>

                                LIST OF EXHIBITS


1.1 (a)  Copy of Trust Indenture and Agreement between John Nuveen &
         Co. Incorporated, Depositor, and United States Trust Company of
         New York, Trustee (as Exibit 1.1 (a) to the Sponsor's Registration
         Statement on Form S-6 relating to Series 723 of the Fund (file No.
         33-52527) and incorporated herein by reference).

1.1 (b)  Schedules to the 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 Corporation.

4.2      Consent of Kenny S+P Evaluation Services.

4.3      Consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn.

                                                                      
<PAGE>                                                                        
                                                                              
Exhibit 1.1(b)                                                                
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                 SCHEDULE A                                   
                                                                              
                                                                              
Series 783                                           February 6, 1995         
                                                                              
Item 1.  This Indenture relates to the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust           
         Series 783.                                                          
                                                                              
Item 2.  The date of this Indenture is February 6, 1995.                      
                                                                              
Item 3.  Series 783 shall initially contain Trusts as follows:                
                                                                              
         (a)   California Insured Trust 242                                   
         (b)   Florida Insured Trust 205                                      
         (c)   Michigan Insured Trust 59                                      
         (d)   Ohio Insured Trust 122                                         
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 4.  Each Trust shall initially consist of the following number of Units: 
                                                                              
         (a)   California Insured Trust                 35,000 Units          
         (b)   Florida Insured Trust                    35,000 Units          
         (c)   Michigan Insured Trust                   35,000 Units          
         (d)   Ohio Insured Trust                       35,000 Units          
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 5.  (a) The amount of the second distribution from the Interest          
             Account of the respective Trusts will be as follows:             
                                                                              
         ( 1)  California Insured Trust                $ .3830 per Unit       
         ( 2)  Florida Insured Trust                   $ .3880 per Unit       
         ( 3)  Michigan Insured Trust                  $ .4050 per Unit       
         ( 4)  Ohio Insured Trust                      $ .3925 per Unit       
                                                                              
         (b) The date of the second distribution from the Interest Account    
             of the respective Trusts will be as follows:                     
                                                                              
         ( 1)  California Insured Trust                March 15, 1995         
         ( 2)  Florida Insured Trust                   March 15, 1995         
         ( 3)  Michigan Insured Trust                  March 15, 1995         
         ( 4)  Ohio Insured Trust                      March 15, 1995         
                                                                              
         (c) The record date for the second distribution from the             
             Interest Account of the respective Trusts will be as             
             follows:                                                         
                                                                              
         ( 1)  California Insured Trust                March 1, 1995          
         ( 2)  Florida Insured Trust                   March 1, 1995          
         ( 3)  Michigan Insured Trust                  March 1, 1995          
         ( 4)  Ohio Insured Trust                      March 1, 1995          
                                                                              
                                                                              
         PAGE 2                                                               
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 6.  Record dates for subsequent semi-annual distributions from the       
         Interest Account for each of the respective Trusts will be the 1st   
         day of May and November of each year.                                
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 7.  (a) Record date for distibution from the Principal Account of each   
             of the respective Trusts will be the first day of May and        
             November of each year.                                           
                                                                              
         (b) The first record date for distributions from the Principal       
             Account of each of the respective Trusts will be                 
             May 1, 1995.                                                     
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 8.  The Trust shall in no event continue beyond the end of the calendar  
         year preceding the fiftieth anniversary of the execution of this     
         Indenture 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 and beyond the end of  
         the calendar year preceding the tenth anniversary of its execution   
         for Short Intermediate and Short Term Trusts.                        
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 9.  Quarterly distributions from the Interest Account of the respective  
         Trusts will be computed as of the 1st day of February, May, August,  
         and November.                                                        
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 10. Certain deductions from the Interest Account by the Trustee          
         will commence as follows:                                            
                                                                              
         (a)   California Insured Trust                March 1, 1995          
         (b)   Florida Insured Trust                   March 1, 1995          
         (c)   Michigan Insured Trust                  March 1, 1995          
         (d)   Ohio Insured Trust                      March 1, 1995          
                                                                              
Item 11. (a)  For services performed prior to the date indicated in           
              Item 5(c) of this Schedule A, the Trustee shall be paid at      
              the following annual rates per $1,000 of principal amount       
              of Bonds:                                                       
                                                                              
         ( 1)  California Insured Trust                $1.7393                
         ( 2)  Florida Insured Trust                   $1.7057                
         ( 3)  Michigan Insured Trust                  $1.6488                
         ( 4)  Ohio Insured Trust                      $1.6329                
                                                                              
         (b)  For services performed on or after the date indicated in        
              Item 5(c) of this Schedule A, the Trustee shall be paid at      
              the following annual rates per $1,000 of principal amount       
              of Bonds:                                                       
                                                                              
         ( 1)  California Insured Trust                                       
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.7393          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.4193          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.2293          
                                                                              
         ( 2)  Florida Insured Trust                                          
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.7057          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.3857          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.1957          
                                                                              
         ( 3)  Michigan Insured Trust                                         
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.6488          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.3288          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.1388          
                                                                              
         ( 4)  Ohio Insured Trust                                             
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.6329          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.3129          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.1229          
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                            ADDITIONAL SCHEDULES                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                         BONDS INITIALLY DEPOSITED                            
                                                                              
                  NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 783                     
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
Incorporated herein and made a part hereof as indicated below are the         
following annual rates per $1,000 of principal amount of Bonds:               
corresponding portions of the 'Schedules of Investments at Date of Deposit'   
contained in the Prospectus dated the Date of Deposit and relating to the     
above-named Series:                                                           
                                                                              
         Schedule B:  California Insured Trust 242                            
         Schedule C:  Florida Insured Trust 205                               
         Schedule D:  Michigan Insured Trust 59                               
         Schedule E:  Ohio Insured Trust 122                                  


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.1

(ON CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LETTERHEAD)

2/06/95


John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783

Gentlemen:

    We have served as counsel for you, as depositor of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit
Trust, Series 783 (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 United 
States Trust Company of New York, 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. 33-57201) 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 3.2

(ON CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LETTERHEAD)

2/06/95

John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783

Gentlemen:

    We have served as counsel for you, as Depositor of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit
Trust, Series 783 (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 United States Trust Company of New York, 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-Exempt 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-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783.

    We have concluded that the Trust Indenture and Agreement for the Fund and
its counterpart in each of the prior issues of Nuveen Tax-Exempt 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
taxable as an association 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 Fund 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 and original issue
discount 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(f) and 56(g)
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 repect 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 issued discount with
respect to each Bond held by the Trust with respect to which there was an
original issue discount and reduced by the annual amortization of bond
premium, if any, on Bonds held by the Trust.

<PAGE>

    (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 Fund, 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 with respect to each Bond which, at the time
the Bond was issued, had original issue 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 any Bond which matures within one year of the date
issued, the accrual of tax-exempt original issue discount will generally be
computed daily on a ratable basis unless the Unitholder elects to accrue such
discount under a constant yield method, compounded daily.

    (vii)  In the case of any Bond which does not mature within one year
after the date issued, tax-exempt original issue discount will accrue
daily, computed generally under a constant yield method, compounded
semiannually (with straight line interpolation between compounding dates).

    (viii)  In the case of Trusts for which Municipal Bond Investors Assurance
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 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.
<PAGE>

    Because the Trusts do not include any "specified 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) is an amount equal to 50% of the excess of such
corporation's "adjusted net book income" over an amount equal to its AMTI
(before such adjustment item and the alternative tax net operating
loss deduction).  For taxable years beginning after 1989, such adjustment item
will be 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 operating net operating loss deduction) pursuant to
Section 56(g) of the Code.  Both "adjusted net book income" and "adjusted
current earnings" include 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 generally 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, 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.

<PAGE>

    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 by taxpayers other than certain financial institutions, as referred to
above, 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. 33-57201) 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 ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LETTERHEAD)




2/06/95


John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606

United States Trust Company of New York
770 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

     Re: Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783
            
            
         California Insured Trust 242  
            
                  

Dear Sirs:

        We have acted as special California counsel for John Nuveen & Co.
Incorporated, as Depositor of the above captioned trust(s) (each a "Trust"),
in connection with the issuance under the Trust Agreement dated 2/06/95,
among John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, as Depositor, and United States Trust
Company of New York, as Trustee, of units of fractional undivided
interest in each Trust (the "Units") in exchange for certain bonds, as well as
"regular-way" and "when-issued" contracts for the purchase of bonds (such
bonds and contracts are hereinafter referred to collectively as the
Securities").

        In connection therewith, we have examined such corporate records,
certificates and other documents and such questions of law as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion, and, on the basis
of such examination, and upon existing provisions of the Revenue and Taxation
Code of the State of California, with respect to each Trust, we are of the
opinion that:

        1.  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
under the income tax laws of California.

        2.  Interest on the underlying Securities (which may include bonds
or other obligations issued by the governments of Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands) which is exempt from tax
under California personal income tax and property tax laws when received by
the Trust will, under such laws, retain its status as tax-exempt interest when
distributed to unitholders.  However, interest on the underlying securities
attributed to a unitholder which is a corporation subject to the California
franchise tax laws may be includable in such corporation's gross income for
purposes of determining its California franchise tax.

        3.  Under California income tax law, each unitholder in the Trust will
have a taxable event when the Trust disposes of a security (whether by sale,
exchange, redemption, or payment at maturity) or when the unitholder redeems
or sells Units.  Because of the requirement that tax cost basis be reduced to
reflect amortization of bond premium, under some circumstances a
unitholder may realize taxable gain when units are sold or
redeemed for an amount equal to, or less than, their original cost.
The total tax cost of each Unit to a unitholder is allocated among each of
the bond issues held in the Trust (in accordance with the proportion of the
Trust comprised by each bond issue) in order to determine his per unit tax
cost for each bond issue; and the tax cost reduction requirements relating to
amortization of bond premium will apply separately to the per unit cost of
each bond issue.  Unitholders' bases in their Units, and the bases for
their fractional interest in each Trust asset, may have to be adjusted for
their pro rata share of accrued interest received, if any, on securities
delivered after the unitholders' respective settlement dates.

        4.  Under the California personal property tax laws, bonds (including
the Securities) or any interest therein is exempt from such tax.

        5.  Proceeds paid under an insurance policy, if any, issued to the
Trustee of the Trust with respect to the Securities which represent maturing
interest on defaulted obligations held by the Trustee will be exempt from
California personal 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.

<PAGE> 

        6.  Under Section 17280(b)(2) of the California Revenue and
Taxation Code, interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase
or carry Units of the Trust is not deductible for the purposes of the
California personal income tax.  While there presently is no California
authority interpreting this provision, Section 17280(b)(2) directs the
California Francise Tax Board to prescribe regulations determining the
proper allocation and apportionment of interest costs for this purpose.
The Franchise Tax Board has not yet proposed or prescribed such regulations.
In interpreting the generally similar Federal provision, the Internal
Revenue Service has taken the position that such indebtedness need not be
directly traceable to the purchase or carrying of Units (although the Service
has not contended that a deduction for interest on indebtedness incurred
to purchase or improve a personal residence or to purchase goods or services
for personal consumption will be disallowed).  In the absence of conflicting
regulations or other California authority, the California Franchise Tax
Board generally has interpreted California statutory tax provisions in accord
with Internal Revenue Service interpretations of similar Federal provisions.


       Opinions relating to the validity of securities and the exemption of
interest thereon from State of California income tax are rendered by bond
counsel to the issuing authority at the time securities are issued and we
have relied solely upon such opinions, or, as to securities not yet
delivered, forms of such opinions contained in official statements
relating to such securities.  Except in certain instances in which we acted
as bond counsel to issuers of securities, and as such made a review of pro-
ceedings relating to the issuance of certain securities at the time of their
issuance, we have not made any review of proceedings relating to the issuance
of securities or the bases of bond counsels' opinions.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 33-57201) 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.

Very truly yours,



ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE
(BY KENNETH G. WHYBURN)




<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3

(On Carlton, Fields, Ward, Emmanuel, Smith & Cutler, P.A. LETTERHEAD)




2/06/95


Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783
Florida Insured Trust 205
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

Attn:  James J. Wesolowski, Esquire
       Vice President, General Counsel
       and Secretary

        Re:   
             Florida Insured Trust 205

Gentlemen:

    We have acted as special Florida counsel to Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust,
- - including the above-captioned trust (the "Fund") in connection with the
issuance by the Fund of units of fractional undivided interests in the Fund
(the "Units").  In that connection, you have requested our opinion as to the
application of Florida state and local taxes to the Trust (as hereinafter
defined) and to investors who purchase units in the Trust.

    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, you have authorized us to assume
that the proposed offer and sale of the Units, including the units of the
Florida Trust, will be carried out in that same manner and upon the same terms
and conditions as those described in any prospectus for a previous Nuveen
Tax-Exempt Unit Trust that contained a Florida Insured Trust.
In addition, you have authorized us to assume and we have assumed that:

    (a)  The Fund has been organized under a Trust Indenture and Agreement
between John Nuveen & Co., Incorporated (the "Depositor") and United States
Trust Company of New York (the "Trustee").

    (b)  The Fund will issue the Units in several State Trusts; one of which
is the Florida Insured Trust (the "Trust").

    (c)  The Units will be purchased by various investors who may be 
individuals or corporations.

    (d)  Each Unit of the Trust represents a fractional undivided interest in
the principal and net income of the Trust in the ratio of ten Units for each
$1,000 principal amount of the obligations initially acquired by the Trust.

    (e)  Each Trust will be administered as a distinct entity with separate
certificates, investments, expenses, books, and records.

    (f)  The assets of the Trust will consist solely of interest-bearing
obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of Florida, its political
subdivisions, and authorities or by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam
or the Virgin Islands.

    (g)  Distributions of interest received by the Trust will be made
semi-annually, unless the Unitholder elects otherwise.

    (h)  The interest on all Bonds in the Trust will be exempt from Federal
income tax.(N.1)

    (i)  The Bonds have been issued in strict compliance with all requirements
of Florida, Federal or territorial law.

    (j)  The Fund is a registered investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.


    In rendering our opinion, you have advised us that Messrs. Chapman and
Cutler have rendered the following opinions and have authorized us to rely 
upon such opinions and we have relied upon such opinions that:

    (a)  The Trust will not be taxable as an 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.

    (b)  Each Unitholder will be considered as owning a pro-rata share
of each asset of the Trust to which such Unit relates in the proportion
that the number of Units of the Trust held by him bears to the total number of
outstanding Units of the Trust and will be subject to Federal income 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.

    (c)  The Trust will not be subject to Federal income taxes.

<PAGE>

    (d)  For Federal income tax purposes, each 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 the Trust
consists of interest excludable from Federal 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 Unitholders.

    (e)  For Federal income tax purposes, each Unitholder will have a
taxable event when, upon redemption or sale of his Units, he receives 
cash or other property.  Gain or loss will be measured by comparing the
proceeds of such a redemption or sale with the Unitholder's adjusted
basis for the Unit.  Before adjustment, generally this basis would be cost, if
the Unitholder had purchased his Units, plus his share of certain
advances by the Trustee to the Trust and certain accrued original issue
discount.  For Federal income tax purposes, if the Trustee disposes of a Trust
asset (whether by sale, payment on maturity, retirement, or otherwise), gain
or loss will be recognized by each Unitholder, and such gain or loss is
computed by measuring the Unitholder's aliquot share of the total
proceeds from the transaction against his basis for his fractional interest in
the asset disposed of (such basis being determined by apportioning the basis
for his Units among all of the Trust's assets ratably according to their
values as of the valuation date nearest the date on which he purchased the
Units).  A Unitholder's basis in his Units and the basis for his
fractional interest in each Trust asset must be reduced by the amount of his
aliquot share of interest received, 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 and must be reduced annually by
amortization of premiums, if any, on obligations held by the Trust.
 
    For the purposes of this letter:

    (a)  "Florida Code" shall mean the Florida Income Tax Code, Chapter 220,
Florida Statutes, as amended.  In the Florida Income Tax Code, Chapter 220, 
Florida Statutes, the Florida Legistature has adopted, retroactively to 
January 1, 1994, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect 
on January 1, 1994, as the Internal Revenue Code under which a Corporate 
Unitholder must compute its income for purposes of Florida corporate income 
taxation.

    (b)  "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended and in effect on January 1, 1994.

    (c)  "Non-Corporate Unitholder" shall mean a Unitholder
of the Florida Trust who is an individual not subject to the income
tax on corporations imposed by the Florida Code.

    (d)  "Corporate Unitholder" shall mean a Unitholder of the
Florida Trust that is a corporation subject to the income tax on
corporations imposed by the Florida Code.

    (e)  "Nonbusiness Income" is defined in the Florida Code and shall mean
rents and royalties from real or tangible personal property, capital gains,
interest, dividends, and patent and copyright royalties, to the extent that
they do not arise from transactions and activities in the regular course of a
Corporate Unitholder's trade or business.  The term Nonbusiness Income
does not include income from tangible and intangible property if the
acquisition, management, and disposition of the property constitute integral
parts of a Corporate Unitholder's regular trade or business operations,
or any amounts which could be included in apportionable income without
violating the due process clause of the United States Constitution.  For
purposes of this definition, "income" means gross receipts less all expenses
directly or indirectly attributable thereto.

    (f)  "Commercial domicile" shall mean the place that a corporation
maintains its principal place of business.  The term "commercial domicile" is
not specifically defined in Florida law for Florida corporate income tax
purposes.  However, the Florida Supreme Court has on at least two occasions
attributed meaning to this phrase, and recently enacted legislation amending
Florida's intangible personal property tax law defines this phrase.  The 
Court has implied that a corporation's commercial domicile is its principal 
place of business, Department of Revenue v. Amrep Corp., 358 So.2d 1343, 1350
(Fla. 1978).  The Court also stated in another case that a particular
corporation's domicile was in New York City where its head office and the
actual seat of its over-all business government was located and from where
its executive officers regularly exercised their complete authority and
controlled and directed all activities of the corporation, wherever carried
on.  Gay v. Bessemer Properties, Inc., 32 So.2d 587, 591 (Fla. 1947).  In
recently enacted legislation, a corporation is considered to acquire a
commercial domicile in Florida "when it maintains its chief or principal
office in [Florida] where executive or management functions are performed
or where the course of business operations is determined."  Section 199.175
(1)(b), Florida Statutes (1989).

    Based solely upon the assumptions you have permitted us to make and the
opinions of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler upon which you have authorized us to
rely, we are of the opinion that:

    (a)  For Florida state income tax purposes, the Trust will not be subject 
to the income tax imposed by the Florida Code so long as the Trust has no
income subject to federal income taxation.  In addition, political sub-
divisions of Florida do not impose any income taxes.

    (b)  Because Florida does not impose an income tax on individuals,
Non-Corporate Unitholders will not be subject to any Florida income tax
on income realized by the Trust.  Each Corporate Unitholder will be
subject to Florida income taxation on its share of the income realized by the
Trust notwithstanding the tax exempt status of the interest received
from any bonds under Section 103(a) of the Code or any other federal law,
unless the interest income constitutes Nonbusiness Income.  Nevertheless,
any Corporate Unitholder that has its commercial domicile in Florida will be
taxable under the Florida Code on its share of the Trust income which
constitutes Nonbusiness Income.

<PAGE>

    (c)  A Non-Corporate Unitholder will not be subject to Florida
income taxation with respect to gain realized when Bonds held in the Trust 
are sold, redeemed, or paid at maturity.  A Corporate Unitholder will
be subject to Florida income taxation with respect to gain realized on such a 
sale, redemption, or payment at maturity of a Bond held by the Trust, except
to the extent that the gain realized therefrom constitutes Nonbusiness
Income.  Nevertheless, to the extent that gains realized by a Corporate
Unitholder arising from a sale, redemption, or payment at maturity
constitute Nonbusiness Income, such gain will be taxable under the Florida
Code if the Corporate Unitholder's commercial domicile is in Florida.

    (d)  Any gain realized by a Non-Corporate Unitholder from the
redemption, sale, or other disposition of a Unit will not be subject to 
Florida income tax.  Any gain realized by a Corporate Unitholder from
the redemption, sale, or other disposition of a Unit will be subject to 
Florida income tax except to the extent that the gain realized therefrom
constitutes Nonbusiness Income. Nevertheless, to the extent that gain
realized by a Corporate Unitholder arising from a sale, redemption, or
other disposition of a Unit consitutes Nonbusiness Income, such gain will be
taxable under the Florida Code if the Corporate Unitholder's commercial
domicile is in Florida.
 
    (e)  A Non-Corporate Unitholder will not be subject to Florida
income taxation with respect to amounts paid under the Municipal Bond
Investors Assurance Corporation insurance policies representing interest on
defaulted obligations held by the Trustee.  A Corporate Unitholder
will be subject to Florida income taxation on its share of amounts paid under 
the Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation insurance policies
representing maturing interest on defaulted obligations held by the Trustee
except to the extent that such payments constitute Nonbusiness Income as de-
fined in the Florida Code.  Nevertheless, any Corporate Unitholder that
has its commercial domicile in Florida will be taxable under the Florida Code
on its share of amounts paid under the Municipal Bond Investors Assurance
Corporation insurance policies representing maturing interest on defaulted
obligations held by the Trustee even if such payments constitute Nonbusiness
Income.

    (f)  A Non-Corporate Unitholder will not be subject to Florida
income taxation with respect to gain realized with respect to amounts paid 
under the Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation
insurance policies representing principal on defaulted
obligations held by the Trustee.  A Corporate Unitholder will be
subject to Florida income taxation with respect to gain realized on its share 
of amounts paid under the Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation
insurance policies representing principal on defaulted obligations held by
the Trustee except to the extent that the gain realized constitutes
Nonbusiness Income.  Nevertheless, gain realized, by
any Corporate Unitholder that has its commercial domicile in Florida,
on such payments representing principal on defaulted obligations held by the
Trustee, will be taxable under the Florida Code even if such payments
constitute Nonbusiness Income.
 
    (g)  Even if interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a
Unitholder to purchase Units in the Trust is not deductible for Federal
income tax purposes, under Code section 265(a)(2) or any other law,  it will
be deductible, in effect, by Corporate Unitholders for Florida income tax
purposes if interest earned on the Units is other than Nonbusiness Income.
Nevertheless, if interest earned on the Units is Nonbusiness Income, any
Corporate Unitholder that has its commercial domicile in Florida may reduce
the amount of interest included as Nonbusiness Income by the amount of
expenses directly or indirectly attributable thereto.

    (h)  Trust Units will be subject to Florida estate tax only if owned by
Florida residents and may be subjected to Florida estate tax if owned by other
decendents.  However, the Florida estate tax is limited to the amount of the
credit allowable under the applicable Federal Revenue Act (currently Section
2011 (and in some cases Section 2102) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended) for death taxes actually paid to the several states.

    (i)  Neither the Bonds nor the Units will be subject to the Florida ad
valorem tax or Florida sales or use tax.

    (j)  Because Bonds issued by the State of Florida, its political
subdivisions or by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin
Islands, are exempt from Florida intangible personal property taxation under
Chapter 199, Florida Statutes, the Trust will not be subject to Florida
intangible personal property tax.  In addition, the Unitholders will not be
subject to Florida intangible personal property tax on the Units.

    (k)  The sale, redemption, or other disposition by the Trust of Bonds
issued by the State of Florida, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the
Virgin Islands, will not subject either the Trust or the Unitholders to
Florida documentary stamp tax.

    (l)  The issuance and sale of the Units by the Trust will not
subject either the Trust or the Unitholders to Florida documentary
stamp tax.
 
    (m)  The transfer of Units by a Unitholder will not be
subject to Florida documentary stamp tax.

<PAGE>

    This opinion is limited to the law in effect as of the date hereof and
we assume no responsibility for changes in the law that may become effective
subsequent to the date of this opinion.  Furthermore, this letter is not to be
construed as a prediction of a favorable outcome with respect to any issue for
which no favorable prediction is made herein, or as a guaranty of any tax
result, or as offering an assurance or guaranty that a Florida state or local
taxing authority might not differ with our conclusions, or raise other
questions or issues upon audit, or that such action may not be judicially
sustained.

    We have not examined any of the Bonds to be deposited in the Fund and held
by the Trust, and we express no opinion as to whether the interest on any such
Bonds 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 the Bonds or the basis for the bond counsel opinions or the 
opinions of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler referred to herein.

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 33-57201) and to the reference to our
firm in such Registration Statement and the Prospectus included
therein. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within 
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.

_______________________
(N.1) Section 2.01 of the Indenture provides that if the Depositor fails to
deposit Bonds, through no fault of its own, the Depositor may, as provided in
Section 3.14 of said Indenture, purchase replacement bonds (referred to as
"New Bonds") that will also be tax exempt bonds issued by the same states or 
their respective political subdivisions.


Very truly yours,



CARLTON FIELDS WARD EMMANUEL SMITH & CUTLER, P.A.
By: David P. Burke



<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3


(ON DICKINSON, WRIGHT, MOON, VAN DUSEN & FREEMAN LETTERHEAD)

2/06/95




John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

United States Trust Company of New York,
as Trustee
770 Broadway
New York, New York  10003

Re:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783
 
Michigan Insured Trust 59

Gentlemen:

    We have acted as special Michigan counsel to the captioned Trust(s)(the
"Michigan Trust(s)") of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust - Series 783
(the "Fund") concerning a Registration Statement (No. 33-57201) on Form S-6
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the issuance by the
Michigan Trust(s) of Units of fractional undivided interest in the Michigan
Trust(s) (the "Units").

    The Michigan Trust(s) has (have) been organized under a Trust Indenture
and Agreement dated as of 2/06/95 between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, as
Depositor ("Nuveen"), and United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee
("Trustee").  The Fund will contain several trusts, including the Michigan
Trust(s), which will issue the Units.  The Units of the Michigan Trust(s)
will be purchased by various investors (the "Unitholders").  Each Unit of
a Michigan Trust represents a fractional undivided interest in a Michigan
Trust.  The Michigan Trust(s) and the other trusts each will be administered
as a distinct entity with separate certificates, investments, expenses, books
and records.  Further, Nuveen, the Trustee and Municipal Bond Investors
Assurance Corporation will enter into an agreement for any Michigan Insured
Trust providing for the provision of insurance (the "Insurance") against the
nonpayment of principal and interest when due.

    The assets of a Michigan Trust will consist of interest-bearing
obligations issued by or on  behalf of the State of Michigan, and counties,
municipalities, authorities and political subdivisions thereof, and, in
limited instances, bonds issued by Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the
Northern Mariana Islands or possessions of the United States (the "Bonds").
Distributions of the interest received by a Michigan Trust will generally
be made semi-annually unless the Unitholder elects otherwise.
We have been advised by Nuveen that in the opinion of bond counsel to each
issuer, the interest on all Bonds in a Michigan Trust is exempt from
Federal income tax under existing law.
 
    Chapman and Cutler, counsel for Nuveen, has advised us that for federal
income tax purposes a Michigan Trust will not be taxable as an 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
Unitholder's repective Michigan 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.  A Michigan Trust itself will
not be subject to federal income taxes.  For federal income tax purposes, each
item of income from a Michigan Trust 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 Michigan 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.  In addition, if Insurance has been obtained, Chapman and Cutler
has examined the form of the policy of Insurance being issued with respect to
the Bonds and based thereon has advised us that any amounts paid under the
Insurance 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 by the
respective issuer.

    Based upon the above information which, with Nuveen's consent, we have
relied upon, it is our opinion that for Michigan state and local tax pur-
poses, a Michigan Trust will be recognized as a trust not taxable as a
corporation.

    We are further of the opinion that under existing law:

    Under the Michigan income tax act, the Michigan single business tax act, 
the Michigan intangibles tax act, the Michigan city income tax act (which
authorizes the only income tax ordinance which may be adopted by cities in 
Michigan), and under the law which authorizes a "first class" school district
to levy an excise tax upon income, the Michigan Trust(s) will not be subject
to tax.  The income of a Michigan Trust will be treated as the income of the
Unitholders and be deemed to have been received by them when received
by their respective Michigan Trust.

    Interest on the Bonds in a Michigan Trust which is exempt from Federal
income tax is exempt from Michigan state and local income taxes and from the
Michigan single business tax.  Further, any amounts paid under any Insurance
representing maturing interest on defaulted obligations held by the Trustee
will be excludable from Michigan state and local income taxes and from the
Michigan single business tax if, and to the same extent as, such interest
would have been so excludable if paid by the respective issuer.
 
    For purposes of the foregoing Michigan tax laws (corporations and
financial institutions are not subject to the Michigan income tax), each 
Unitholder will be considered to have received his pro rata share of
Bond interest when it is received by the Unitholder's respective Michigan
Trust, and each Unitholder will have a taxable event when the Unitholder's
respective Michigan Trust disposes of a Bond (whether by sale, exchange,
redemption or payment at maturity) or when the Unitholder redeems or sells
Units.  Due to the requirement that tax cost be reduced to reflect
amortization of bond premium, under some circumstances a Unitholder may
realize taxable gain when Units are sold or redeemed for an amount equal to,
or less than, their original cost.  The tax cost of each Unit to a Unitholder
will be allocated for purposes of these Michigan tax laws in the same manner
as the cost is allocated for Federal income tax purposes.

<PAGE>

    Pursuant to the position of the Michigan Department of Treasury in a
bulletin dated December 19, 1986, the portion of the tax exempt bond fund
represented by the Bonds will be exempt from the Michigan Intangibles
Tax.  The Department of Treasury has not indicated a position with respect
to treatment of amounts paid under a policy of insurance with respect to
maturing interest on defaulted obligations (which amounts would have been
exludable if paid by the respective issuer)  for purposes of determining
the income base for the Michigan Intangibles Tax.

    If a Unitholder is subject to the Michigan single business tax (i.e.
is engaged in a "business activity" as defined in the Michigan single
business tax act) and has a taxable event for Federal income tax purposes
when a Michigan Trust sells or exchanges Bonds or the Unitholder
sells or exchanges Units, such event may impact on the adjusted tax base upon
which the single business tax is computed.  Any capital gain or loss realized
from such taxable event which was included in the computation of the
Unitholder's Federal taxable income, plus the portion, if any, of such
capital gain excluded in such computation and minus the portion, if any, of
such capital loss not deducted in such computation for the year the loss
occurred, will be included in the adjusted tax base.  The adjusted tax base
of any person other than a corporation is affected by any gain or loss
realized from the taxable event only to the extent that the resulting Federal
taxable income is derived from "business activity".
 
    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 33-57201) relating to the Units and to
the reference to our Firm as special Michigan counsel in the Registration 
Statement and in the related Prospectus.

Very truly yours,


DICKINSON, WRIGHT, MOON, VAN DUSEN & FREEMAN 


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3


(ON SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY LETTERHEAD)

2/06/95

John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606

U.S. Trust Company of New York
770 Broadway
New York, New York 10003

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783
      
     Ohio Insured Trust 122

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-Exempt Unit Trust --  Series 783 (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 United
States Trust Company of New York, 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.

    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. 33-57201) 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 4.1

(ON STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION LETTERHEAD)

2/06/95

John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL  60606

RE: Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783

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 # 33-57201.

    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.

    You have permission to use the name of Standard & Poor's Corporation 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 Corporation 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 Corporation 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 CORPORATION


 By Vincent S. Orgo



<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 4.2

(On J. J. Kenny Co., Inc., Letterhead)

2/06/95

John Nuveen & Company
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606-1286

RE:  Nuveen Tax Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783

Gentlemen:

      We have examined Registration Statement File No. 33-57201 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,


 Donald H. Totter
 



<PAGE>

                                   MEMORANDUM

                 Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 783
                               File No. 33-57201


    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 2/06/95,
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

     PAGE 3.       The "Estimated Long-Term Return" and "Estimated Current
Return" to Unitholders under each Trust under each of the distribution
plans are stated.

     PAGES 4 - 5.  Essential information for each of the Trusts, including
applicable footnotes, has been completed for this Series.

     PAGES 5 - 6.  The date of the Indenture has been inserted in Section 1
along with the size and number of Units of each of the Trusts.

     PAGE 8 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 distribution table for each Trust

         Taxable Equivalent Estimated Current Return Tables for residents
         of the respective jurisdictions

         The statements of condition for each Trust
         and the accountant's report with regard thereto.

         The amount of the Trustee's Fee

                             THE INDENTURE

The Schedules to the Indenture have been completed.


CHAPMAN AND CUTLER


Chicago, Illinois

2/06/95


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