NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 807
S-6EL24, 1995-05-10
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<PAGE>
                                                      40 ACT FILE NO. 811-2271


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    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 807

B.  Name of Depositor:       JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED

C.  Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices:

                             333 West Wacker Drive
                            Chicago, Illinois  60606

D.  Name and complete address of agents for service:

                         JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                            Attn:  James J. Wesolowski
                             333 West Wacker Drive
                            Chicago, Illinois  60606


                                CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                           Attn:  Eric F. Fess
                             111 West Monroe Street
                            Chicago, Illinois  60603

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

_____
_____  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

_____
_____  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of rule 485

_____
_____  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 pursuant to Rule 24f-2 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.

F.  Proposed maximum offering price to the public of the securities being
registered:  Indefinite

G.  Amount of filing fee:  $500 (as required by 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
- -----       on (Date) at (Time) pursuant to Rule 487.


______________________________________________________________________________

    The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant 
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this 
Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with 
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration 
Statement  shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting 
pursuant to said  Section 8(a) may determine.



<PAGE>
   
                                  MAY 9, 1995
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
 
NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
             PROSPECTUS
            Series 801
             May 9, 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 801  consists  of  four  underlying
separate unit investment trusts designated as Connecticut Traditional Trust 273,
Short  Intermediate  Insured Trust  41, Arizona  Insured Trust  39 and  New York
Insured Trust 235. 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 MBIA  Insurance Corporation guaranteeing payment of
principal and interest when due. All such policies of insurance remain effective
so long as the obligations are outstanding.  As a result of such insurance,  the
Bonds in each portfolio of the Insured Trusts have received a rating of "Aaa" by
Moody's  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.) For Estimated Cash Flow Tables for Short Intermediate Insured Trust
41, see page 17.
    
 
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
      Connecticut Traditional Trust 273                       3         8-15
      Short Intermediate Insured Trust 41                     3        16-21
      Arizona Insured Trust 39                                3        22-28
      New York Insured Trust 235                              3        29-42
      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         8-42
      Bonds, Removal from Trust                              21         A-34
      Call Provisions of Portfolio Bonds                   3, 4     8-42,A-8
      Capital Gains Taxability                               11         A-20
      Dealer Discount                                        17         A-29
      Description of Units of Trust                           1            5
      Distributions to Unitholders                           13         A-24
      Distribution Payment Dates                          3, 13   8-42, A-24
      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-29
      Expenses to Fund                                       12         A-23
      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         8-42
      Investments, Schedules of                               3         8-42
      Legality of Units                                      24         A-38
      Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee       22        A-35
      Market for Units                                        7         A-17
      Minimum Transaction                                    17         A-31
      Objectives of the Trusts                                2            6
      Optional Distribution Plan                             13         A-24
      Other Information                                      24         A-37
      Ownership and Transfer of Units                        18         A-31
      Public Offering Price of Units                          6         A-13
      Quantity Purchases                                      6         A-13
      Record Dates                                           13         A-24
      Ratings, Description of                                24         A-39
      Redemption of Units by Trustee                         19    A-32,A-34
      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-36
      State Tax Status                                        3         8-42
      Successor Trustees and Sponsors                        22         A-35
      Tax Status of Unitholders                              11         A-19
      Trustee, Information About                             22         A-35
      Trust Indenture, Amendment and Termination             24         A-37
      Unit Value                                             16         A-29
</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>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Connecticut Traditional Trust 273........      5.38%         5.41%           5.43%
  Short Intermediate Insured Trust 41......      4.72%         4.76%           4.77%
  Arizona Insured Trust 39.................      5.37%         5.41%           5.43%
  New York Insured Trust 235...............      5.50%         5.53%           5.54%
</TABLE>
    
 
                           ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------
                    TRUST                       MONTHLY      QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
  <S>                                           <C>          <C>            <C>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Connecticut Traditional Trust 273........      5.31%         5.34%           5.36%
  Short Intermediate Insured Trust 41......      4.45%         4.49%           4.50%
  Arizona Insured Trust 39.................      5.26%         5.30%           5.31%
  New York Insured Trust 235...............      5.39%         5.42%           5.44%
</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
                                  MAY 8, 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>
                                                                               SHORT
                                                        CONNECTICUT        INTERMEDIATE           ARIZONA            NEW YORK
                                                        TRADITIONAL           INSURED             INSURED             INSURED
                                                         TRUST 273           TRUST 41            TRUST 39            TRUST 235
<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                                      ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $    3,500,000      $    9,000,000      $    3,500,000      $    4,000,000
Number of Units.....................................          35,000              90,000              35,000              40,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....        1/35,000            1/90,000            1/35,000            1/40,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $    3,388,643      $    8,862,023      $    3,303,717      $    3,800,261
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $        96.82      $        98.47      $        94.39      $        95.01
    Plus Sales Charge*..............................  $         4.99      $         3.05      $         4.86      $         4.89
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $       101.81      $       101.52      $        99.25      $        99.90
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $        96.35      $        98.22      $        93.94      $        94.55
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $        96.82      $        98.47      $        94.39      $        95.01
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $         5.46      $         3.30      $         5.31      $         5.35
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $         4.99      $         3.05      $         4.86      $         4.89
Calculation of Estimated Net Annual Interest Income
  Per Unit
    Annual Interest Income(2).......................  $       5.6233      $       4.7178      $       5.4401      $       5.6028
    Less Estimated Annual Expense...................  $        .2140      $        .1961      $        .2165      $        .2172
                                                      ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Estimated Net Annual Interest Income(3).........  $       5.4093      $       4.5217      $       5.2236      $       5.3856
Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit......................  $       .01502      $       .01256      $       .01450      $       .01495
Estimated Current Return(4).........................           5.31%               4.45%               5.26%               5.39%
Estimated Long Term Return(4).......................           5.38%               4.72%               5.37%               5.50%
 
<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:
    Connecticut Traditional Trust--$.11, Short Intermediate Insured Trust--$.09, Arizona Insured Trust--$.10 and New York Insured
    Trust--$.10. (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....................................................May 9, 1995
Settlement Date...........................................................May 16, 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>
  Connecticut Traditional Trust 273........          $1.5657          $1.2457         $1.0557
  Short Intermediate Insured Trust 41......           1.5266           1.2066          1.0166
  Arizona Insured Trust 39.................           1.5909           1.2709          1.0809
  New York Insured Trust 235...............           1.6260           1.3060          1.1160
  ------------
  * 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>
  Connecticut Traditional Trust 273........       67094E 675       67094E 683      67094E 691
  Short Intermediate Insured Trust 41......       6710A0 528       6710A0 536      6710A0 544
  Arizona Insured Trust 39.................       67101J 469       67101J 477      67101J 485
  New York Insured Trust 235...............       67101K 342       67101K 359      67101K 367
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
   
SERIES 801
    
 
   
1.  WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 801?
    
 
   
Series  801 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  Connecticut  Traditional Trust  273,  Short  Intermediate
Insured  Trust 41, Arizona Insured Trust 39  and New York Insured Trust 235. 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." This Series was created under the laws of the State of New York
pursuant to a Trust Indenture and Agreement dated May 9, 1995 (the  "Indenture")
between  John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated  (the "Sponsor") and United States Trust
Company of New York (the "Trustee").
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
   
    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  $20,000,000 (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 Connecticut Traditional Trust, $9,000,000 in the  Short
Intermediate  Insured  Trust,  $3,500,000  in  the  Arizona  Insured  Trust  and
$4,000,000 in the New  York 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 Connecticut  Traditional Trust, 90,000  Units of  the Short Intermediate
Insured Trust, 35,000 Units of the Arizona Insured Trust and 40,000 Units of the
New York 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. Only Units of the Short Intermediate Insured
Trust are  offered  for  sale  to Illinois,  Indiana,  Virginia  and  Washington
residents by this Prospectus.
    
 
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 MBIA Insurance
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
&  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
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
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 MBIA Insurance Corporation insurance on such Bonds.
 
    In order for Bonds in the Insured  Trusts to be eligible for MBIA  Insurance
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>
   
CONNECTICUT TRADITIONAL TRUST 273
    
   
    The Portfolio of Connecticut Traditional Trust 273 consists of 7 obligations
issued by entities located in Connecticut 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. Five 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; Health  Care
Facility Revenue, 2; Industrial Revenue, 1; Water and/or Sewer Revenue, 1. Seven
issues  in the  Trust were  rated by Standard  & Poor's  Corporation as follows:
7--AAA. Eight issues were rated by  Moody's Investors Service, Inc. as  follows:
8--Aaa.
    
   
    At the Date of Deposit, the average maturity of the Bonds in the Connecticut
Traditional Trust is 24.8 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  15.0% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 14.4% 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 are  obligations of  issuers  whose revenues  are primarily  derived  from
hospitals  or other health care services, all  of which is covered by insurance.
The source  of payment  for these  Bonds  is insured  by a  commercial  insurer.
Consequently,  the credit ratings of such Bonds essentially reflect the strength
of the insurance or  guarantee and, depending upon  the actual structure of  the
bond  issue, are typically  rated "Aaa" or "Aa"  by Moody's or  "AAA" or "AA" by
Standard & Poor's.
 
    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 May 5, 1995
and May 8, 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>
  $3,378,703       $9,940            $196,816      $3,372,362                 .47%
</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 Connecticut  Traditional Trust,  less estimated  expenses, is  estimated  to
accrue  at the rate  of $.01516 per Unit  per day under  the semi-annual plan of
distribution, $.01511 per Unit per day under the
    
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
   
quarterly plan of distribution  and $.01502 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 Connecticut Traditional
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
CONNECTICUT TRADITIONAL TRUST                            1995                                  1996                   PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------      --------------
Record Date*..........................        6/1            8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       6/15           8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .3304(1)                                                               $  5.4093
                                                              --------   $.4506 every month   --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .3304(1)   $   .9066(2)   $  1.3599      $  1.3599      $  1.3599      $  5.4413
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .3304(1)                  $  2.2740(3)                  $  2.7288      $  5.4603
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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  5-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--CONNECTICUT TRADITIONAL TRUST
 
    For a discussion of the Federal  tax status of income earned on  Connecticut
Traditional Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
   
    The  assets of the Connecticut Traditional Trust will consist of obligations
issued by or on behalf of the State of Connecticut or its political subdivisions
or public instrumentalities, state or  local authorities, districts, or  similar
public  entities created under the laws of the  State of Connecticut or by or on
behalf  of  a  United  States  territory  or  possession  the  interest  on  the
obligations  of  which Federal  law would  prohibit  Connecticut from  taxing if
received  directly  by  a  Unitholder  (the  "Bonds").  Certain  Bonds  in   the
Connecticut  Traditional Trust that  were issued by the  State of Connecticut or
governmental authorities located in  Connecticut may have  been issued prior  to
the  enactment  of a  Connecticut  tax on  the  interest income  of individuals;
therefore, bond counsel to the issuers  of such Connecticut Bonds did not  opine
as  to the exemption  of the interest  on such Connecticut  Bonds from such tax.
However, the  Sponsor and  special counsel  to the  Trusts for  Connecticut  tax
matters  believe that such  interest will be so  exempt. Interest on Connecticut
Bonds in the Connecticut Traditional Trust issued by other issuers, if any,  is,
in the opinion of bond counsel to such issuers, exempt from state taxation.
    
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    In  the opinion of  Day, Berry &  Howard, special counsel  to the Series for
Connecticut tax matters, which relies explicitly  on the opinion of Chapman  and
Cutler regarding Federal income tax matters, under existing Connecticut law:
 
        The  Connecticut  Traditional Trust  is  not liable  for  any tax  on or
    measured by net income imposed by the State of Connecticut.
 
   
        Interest income from a Bond held by the Connecticut Traditional Trust is
    not taxable under the Connecticut tax  on the Connecticut taxable income  of
    individuals,  trusts, and estates (the  "Connecticut Income Tax"), when such
    interest is received by the Connecticut Traditional Trust or distributed  by
    it to a Unitholder.
    
 
        Gains  and  losses recognized  by a  Unitholder  for Federal  income tax
    purposes upon the maturity,  redemption, sale, or  other disposition by  the
    Connecticut  Traditional Trust of a Bond held by the Connecticut Traditional
    Trust or upon the redemption,  sale, or other disposition  of a Unit of  the
    Connecticut Traditional Trust held by a Unitholder are taken into account as
    gains  or losses, respectively, for purposes  of the Connecticut Income Tax,
    except that, in the case of a  Unitholder holding a Unit of the  Connecticut
    Traditional  Trust as a capital asset, such gains and losses recognized upon
    the maturity, redemption, sale or exchange of a Bond issued by or on  behalf
    of  the State of  Connecticut, any political  subdivision thereof, or public
    instrumentality, state  or  local  authority, district,  or  similar  public
    entity  created under the  laws of the State  of Connecticut (a "Connecticut
    Bond") held by the Connecticut Traditional Trust are excluded from gains and
    losses taken  into  account for  purposes  of such  tax  and no  opinion  is
    expressed  as to the treatment for purposes  of such tax of gains and losses
    recognized, to  the  extent  attributable to  Connecticut  Bonds,  upon  the
    redemption,  sale, or  other disposition  by a Unitholder  of a  Unit of the
    Connecticut Traditional Trust held by him.
 
        The portion of any  interest income or capital  gain of the  Connecticut
    Traditional  Trust that is allocable to a  Unitholder that is subject to the
    Connecticut corporation business tax  is includable in  the gross income  of
    such Unitholder for purposes of such tax.
 
        An interest in a Unit of the Connecticut Traditional Trust that is owned
    by  or attributable to  a Connecticut resident  at the time  of his death is
    includable in his gross  estate for purposes  of the Connecticut  succession
    tax and the Connecticut estate tax.
 
TAX DISCLOSURE--CONNECTICUT
 
    The  Connecticut  Income  Tax  was enacted  in  August,  1991.  Generally, a
Unitholder recognizes gain or loss for purposes  of this tax to the same  extent
he  recognizes gain  or loss  for Federal  income tax  purposes. Ordinarily this
would mean  that gain  or loss  would be  recognized by  a Unitholder  upon  the
maturity,  redemption, sale, or other disposition by the Connecticut Traditional
Trust of a Bond held by it,  or upon the redemption, sale, or other  disposition
of a Unit of the Connecticut Traditional Trust held by the Unitholder.
 
    However, on June 19, 1992, Connecticut legislation was adopted that provides
that  gains and losses  from the sale  or exchange of  Connecticut Bonds held as
capital assets will not  be taken into account  for purposes of the  Connecticut
Income  Tax for taxable years starting on  or after January 1, 1992. Regulations
effective for taxable years  starting on or after  January 1, 1994 clarify  that
this  provision also applies to gain or loss recognized by a Unitholder upon the
maturity or redemption of a Connecticut Bond held by the Connecticut Traditional
Trust. However,  it is  not clear  whether this  provision would  apply, to  the
extent attributable
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
to  Connecticut Bonds held by the Connecticut Traditional Trust, to gain or loss
recognized by a Unitholder upon the redemption, sale, or other disposition of  a
Unit  of the Connecticut  Traditional Trust held  by the Unitholder. Unitholders
are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning these matters.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--CONNECTICUT
 
   
    Investors should  be  aware that  manufacturing  was historically  the  most
important  economic activity  within the State  of Connecticut but,  in terms of
number of persons  employed, manufacturing has  declined in the  last ten  years
while  both trade and service-related industries have become more important, and
in 1993  manufacturing  accounted  for  only  19.2%  of  total  non-agricultural
employment in Connecticut. Defense-related business represents a relatively high
proportion  of  the manufacturing  sector; reductions  in defense  spending have
already had  a substantial  adverse  effect on  Connecticut's economy,  and  the
State's  largest defense  contractors have  announced substantial  planned labor
force reductions scheduled to occur over the next four years. Connecticut is now
in a recession, the depth and  duration of which are uncertain. Moreover,  while
unemployment  in the State as a whole  had generally remained below the national
level, as of May 1993,  the estimated rate of  unemployment in Connecticut on  a
seasonally  adjusted basis was 7.4%, compared to 6.9% for the United States as a
whole, and certain  geographic areas  in the State  have been  affected by  high
unemployment  and poverty. The  State derives approximately  70% of its revenues
from taxes imposed by it,  the most important of which  have been the sales  and
use  taxes  and the  corporation business  tax,  each of  which is  sensitive to
changes in the  level of  economic activity in  the State,  but the  Connecticut
Income  Tax, enacted in 1991,  has superseded each of  them in importance. There
can be  no  assurance  that  general  economic  difficulties  or  the  financial
circumstances of the State or its towns and cities will not adversely affect the
market  value of the  Connecticut Bonds in the  Connecticut Traditional Trust or
the ability of the obligors to pay debt service on such Connecticut Bonds.
    
 
    The General Fund budget adopted by  Connecticut for the 1986-87 fiscal  year
contemplated  both revenues and expenditures of $4,300,000,000. The General Fund
ended the 1986-87 fiscal year with  a surplus of $365,200,000. The General  Fund
budget  for  the  1987-88 fiscal  year  contemplated General  Fund  revenues and
expenditures of  $4,915,800,000. However,  the General  Fund ended  the  1987-88
fiscal  year with a deficit of $115,600,000. The General Fund budget adopted for
the  1988-89  fiscal  year  anticipated   that  General  Fund  expenditures   of
$5,551,000,000  and certain educational expenses  of $206,700,000 not previously
paid through the General Fund  would be funded in  part from surpluses of  prior
years  and in part from higher tax revenues projected to result from tax laws in
effect  for  the  1987-88  fiscal  year  and  stricter  enforcement  thereof;  a
substantial deficit was projected during the third quarter of the 1988-89 fiscal
year,  but largely because of tax law changes that took effect before the end of
the fiscal year, the  deficit was kept to  $28,000,000. The General Fund  budget
adopted  for the 1989-90  fiscal year anticipated  expenditures of approximately
$6,224,500,000 and, by virtue of tax increase legislation enacted to take effect
generally at the beginning of the fiscal year, revenues slightly exceeding  such
amount.  However, largely  because of tax  revenue shortfalls,  the General Fund
ended the  1989-90 fiscal  year with  a deficit  for the  year of  $259,500,000,
wiping out reserves for such events
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
built  up in prior years. The General Fund budget adopted for the 1990-91 fiscal
year anticipated  expenditures  of $6,433,000,000,  but  no significant  new  or
increased  taxes were enacted. Primarily because  of significant declines in tax
revenues and unanticipated  expenditures reflective of  economic adversity,  the
General  Fund ended  the 1990-91  fiscal year  alone with  a further  deficit of
$809,000,000.
 
   
    A General Fund  budget for  the 1991-92 fiscal  year was  not enacted  until
August   22,  1991.  This  budget   anticipated  General  Fund  expenditures  of
$7,007,861,328 and revenues of  $7,426,390,000. Projected decreases in  revenues
resulting  from a 25% reduction in the sales tax rate effective October 1, 1991,
the repeal of the taxes on the capital gains and interest and dividend income of
resident individuals for  years starting after  1991, and the  phase-out of  the
corporation  business tax surcharge over two years commencing with taxable years
starting after 1991 were expected to be more than offset by a new general income
tax imposed at  effective rates not  to exceed 4.5%  on the Connecticut  taxable
income  of  resident  and  non-resident individuals,  trusts,  and  estates. The
General Fund  ended  the  1991-92  fiscal year  with  an  operating  surplus  of
$110,000,000.  The General Fund  budget for the  1992-93 fiscal year anticipated
General Fund expenditures of $7,372,062,859 and revenues of $7,372,210,000,  and
the  General Fund  ended the  1992-93 fiscal year  with an  operating surplus of
$113,500,000. Balanced General  Fund budgets  for the biennium  ending June  30,
1995,  were adopted in 1993 appropriating expenditures of $7,828,900,000 for the
1993-94 fiscal year and $8,266,000,000 for the 1994-95 fiscal year. The  General
Fund  ended the 1993-94 fiscal  year with a surplus  of $19,700,000. In 1994 the
budgeted General Fund appropriations for the 1994-95 fiscal year were  increased
to  $8,567,200,000. In addition, expenditures of federal, State, and local funds
in the twelve years started  July 1, 1984, for repair  of the State's roads  and
bridges  now  projected  at $9,400,000,000  are  anticipated, a  portion  of the
State's $4,100,000,000 share  of which would  be financed by  bonds expected  to
total $3,700,000,000 and by direct payments, both of which would be supported by
a  Special Transportation  Fund first  created by  the General  Assembly for the
1984-85 fiscal year.
    
 
   
    To fund operating cash  requirements, prior to the  1991-92 fiscal year  the
State  borrowed up to $750,000,000 pursuant to authorization to issue commercial
paper and  on  July 29,  1991,  it  issued $200,000,000  of  General  Obligation
Temporary  Notes, none of which  temporary borrowings are currently outstanding.
To fund the cumulative General Fund  deficit for the 1989-90 and 1990-91  fiscal
years,  the legislation enacted August 22,  1991, authorized the State Treasurer
to issue Economic  Recovery Notes up  to the aggregate  amount of such  deficit,
which  must be payable no later than June 30, 1996; at least $50,000,000 of such
Economic Recovery Notes, but not more than  a cap amount, is to be retired  each
fiscal  year commencing  with the  1991-92 fiscal  year, and  any unappropriated
surplus up to $205,000,000 in the General Fund  at the end of each of the  three
fiscal  years commencing with the 1991-92 fiscal  year must be applied to retire
such Economic  Recovery Notes  as  may remain  outstanding  at those  times.  On
September  25, 1991,  and October  24, 1991,  the State  issued $640,710,000 and
$325,002,000,  respectively,  of   such  Economic  Recovery   Notes,  of   which
$455,610,000 was outstanding as of March 1, 1995.
    
 
    As  a result  of the  State's budget  problems, the  ratings of  its general
obligation bonds were reduced by Standard &  Poor's from AA+ to AA on March  29,
1990, and by Moody's from Aa1 to Aa on April 9, 1990. Moreover, because of these
problems,  on September 13,  1991, Standard &  Poor's reduced its  rating of the
State's general obligation bonds  and certain other  obligations that depend  in
part  on the  creditworthiness of the  State to  AA-. On March  7, 1991, Moody's
downgraded its  ratings  of the  revenue  bonds of  four  Connecticut  hospitals
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
because  of  the effects  of  the State's  restrictive  controlled reimbursement
environment under which they have been operating.
 
   
    General obligation bonds  issued by Connecticut  municipalities are  payable
primarily  only from  ad valorem  taxes on property  subject to  taxation by the
municipality. Certain Connecticut municipalities have experienced severe  fiscal
difficulties  and  have reported  operating and  accumulated deficits  in recent
years. The  most notable  of these  is the  City of  Bridgeport, which  filed  a
bankruptcy  petition on June 7, 1991. The State opposed the petition. The United
States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut has held that Bridgeport
has authority to file such a petition but that its petition should be  dismissed
on  the grounds that Bridgeport  was not insolvent when  the petition was filed.
Regional economic difficulties, reductions  in revenues, and increased  expenses
could  lead  to  further  fiscal  problems  for  the  State  and  its  political
subdivisions, authorities, and agencies. Difficulty  in payment of debt  service
on  borrowings could result in declines, possibly  severe, in the value of their
outstanding obligations and increases in their future borrowing costs.
    
 
CONNECTICUT 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 under the Connecticut Income Tax. 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 EXEMPTIONS6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
  (1,000'S)1    (1,000'S)2     TAX RATE3      4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0- 39.0      17.5   %     5.76    6.06    6.36    6.67    6.97    7.27    7.58    7.88
    39.0- 94.3    39.0- 48.0      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                  48.0- 71.0      34.0         7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85
                  71.0- 96.0      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                  96.0-114.7      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                 114.7-172.1      32.0         6.99    7.35    7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19    9.56
    94.3-143.6    94.3- 96.0      34.0         7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85
                  96.0-114.7      34.0         7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85
                 114.7-172.1      35.0         7.31    7.69    8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62   10.00
                 172.1-294.6      37.5         7.60    8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40
   143.6-256.5   143.6-172.1      40.0         7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
                 172.1-294.6      42.5         8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30
                  Over 294.6      40.0   4     7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
    Over 256.5   256.5-294.6      46.5         8.88    9.35    9.81   10.28   10.75   11.21   11.68   12.15
                  Over 294.6      43.5   5     8.41    8.85    9.29    9.73   10.18   10.62   11.06   11.50
</TABLE>
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
  (1,000'S)1    (1,000'S)2     TAX RATE3      4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0- 23.4      18.5   %     5.83    6.13    6.44    6.75    7.06    7.36    7.67    7.98
    23.4- 56.6    23.4- 24.0      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                  24.0- 25.0      33.5         7.14    7.52    7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77
                  25.0- 35.0      34.0         7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85
                  35.0- 52.5      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                  52.5-114.7      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
    56.6-118.0    56.6-114.7      34.0         7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85
                 114.7-237.2      35.5         7.36    7.75    8.14    8.53    8.91    9.30    9.69   10.08
   118.0-256.5   118.0-237.2      40.5         7.98    8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92
                  Over 237.2      40.0   4     7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
    Over 256.5    Over 256.5      43.5   5     8.41    8.85    9.29    9.73   10.18   10.62   11.06   11.50
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
       1  The Connecticut  Income Tax  is based  on Connecticut  taxable income,
which is not tied to Federal taxable income. Connecticut taxable income is equal
to Connecticut adjusted gross income  ("CAGI") (which is Federal adjusted  gross
income  with  certain  modifications)  minus  the  allowable  personal exemption
($12,000 in the case of single  individuals; $24,000 for married persons  filing
jointly).   The  Connecticut  Income  Tax  provides  for  a  personal  exemption
phase-out, which essentially doubles  the effective marginal Connecticut  Income
Tax rate for single taxpayers whose CAGI is between $24,000 and $35,001 at which
point  the personal  exemption is completely  phased out.  For married taxpayers
filing a joint  return, the effective  marginal Connecticut Income  Tax rate  is
doubled  where CAGI is between $48,000 and  $71,001, at which point the personal
exemption is completely phased out. It should be noted that for purposes of  the
personal  exemption  phase-out the  Tax  Act merely  references  "adjusted gross
income," which the tables assume is identical to CAGI. In addition, as reflected
in the rates shown,  the Connecticut Income  Tax provides for  a tax credit  (at
varying  percentages depending  on the taxpayer's  CAGI) against  the income tax
which is based on CAGI and, in effect, varies the income tax rate for taxpayers.
Investors should consult  their own  tax advisors  regarding the  effect of  the
credit on marginal tax rates at specific CAGI levels.
 
       2  It is assumed that CAGI is equal to Federal adjusted gross income. See
note 1 regarding  the impact  of CAGI on  the determination  of the  Connecticut
Income Tax.
 
       3 The tables reflect the effect of limitations on itemized deductions and
the  deduction for personal exemptions. These limitations were designed to phase
out certain  benefits of  such  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.
 
       4 Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0%  after the 80% cap on the  limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
       5  Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6%  after the 80% cap on the limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
       6 Includes taxpayers filing as surviving spouses.
 
       7 The Connecticut Income Tax  has different marginal effective tax  rates
that  are  not  reflected  in  these  tables  for  persons  filing  as  heads of
households.
 
    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.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
MAY 9, 1995
CONNECTICUT TRADITIONAL TRUST 273
(SERIES 801)
    
 
   
<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>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   215,000      State of Connecticut, Special Tax Obligation      2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa     $       212,850
                   Bonds, Transportation Infrastructure
                   Purposes, 1994 Series A, 5.65% Due 4/1/12.
                   (FGIC Insured.)
    500,000      Connecticut Development Authority, Water            2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             503,995
                   Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds
                   (Bridgeport Hydraulic Company Project-1994A
                   Series), 6.05% Due 3/1/29. (MBIA Insured.)
    500,000      State of Connecticut Health and Educational         2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             497,500
                   Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, New
                   Britain General Hospital Issue, Series B,
                   6.00% Due 7/1/24. (AMBAC Insured.)
    500,000      State of Connecticut, Health and Educational        2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             432,410
                   Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Saint
                   Francis Hospital and Medical Center Issue,
                   Series C, 5.00% Due 7/1/23. (FGIC Insured.)
    500,000      South Central Connecticut Regional Water            2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             501,250
                   Authority, Water System Revenue Bonds,
                   Eleventh Series, 5.75% Due 8/1/12. (FGIC
                   Insured.)
    500,000      City of Stamford, Connecticut, General              2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             491,075
                   Obligation Bonds, Issue of 1995, 5.50% Due
                   3/15/15.
    260,000      Town of Westport, Connecticut, General              2003 at 102         --         Aaa             260,000
                   Obligation Bonds Issue of 1994, 5.75% Due
                   6/15/14.
    525,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2005 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             489,563
                   Bonds of 1995 (General Obligation Bonds.),
                   5.375% Due 7/1/22. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about May 4, 1995 at a
                   price of 93.916% of principal amount.)(MBIA
                   Insured.)
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,388,643
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 43.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
   
SHORT INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 41
    
 
   
    The Portfolio of Short Intermediate Insured Trust 41 consists of 13 short to
intermediate  term (approximately 3 to 7  year maturities) obligations issued by
entities located in 9 states. Two Bonds in the Trust are general obligations  of
the  governmental  entities issuing  them and  are backed  by the  taxing powers
thereof. Eleven 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; College and University Revenue,
3; Electrical System Revenue, 4;  Transportation Facility Revenue, 1;  Municipal
Lease  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.  Twenty
percent  of the  principal amount of  Bonds in  the Trust consists  of issues of
entities located in the State of  New York; such concentration may involve  more
risk than if such Bonds were issued by issuers located in several states.
    
 
   
    At  the Date  of Deposit,  the average  maturity of  the Bonds  in the Short
Intermediate Insured Trust is 5.0 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  26% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in the
Trust consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily  derived
from  payments  to  colleges  and  universities,  including  tuition,  dormitory
revenues, grants and endorsements.
 
    Approximately 32% 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 May 4, 1995
and May 8, 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>
  $8,833,892       $28,131           $424,600      $8,839,523                 .25%
</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 Short Intermediate Insured Trust,  less estimated expenses, is estimated  to
accrue  at the rate  of $.01270 per Unit  per day under  the semi-annual plan of
distribution, $.01264 per Unit per day under the quarterly plan of  distribution
and  $.01256 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
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
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 Short Intermediate 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
SHORT INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST                         1995                                  1996                   PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------      --------------
Record Date*..........................        6/1            8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       6/15           8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .2763(1)                                                               $  4.5217
                                                              --------   $.3768 every month   --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .2763(1)   $   .7584(2)   $  1.1376      $  1.1376      $  1.1376      $  4.5537
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .2763(1)                  $  1.9050(3)                  $  2.2860      $  4.5727
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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  5-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--SHORT INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST
 
    For a discussion of  the tax status of  income earned on Short  Intermediate
Insured Trust Units, See Section 11.
 
   
ESTIMATED MONTHLY CASH FLOW TABLE FOR SHORT INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 41
    
 
    Following  is an Estimated  Monthly Cash Flow  Table for the above-captioned
Trust. As discussed below, the Table assumes  that the Bonds will remain in  the
Trust  until the date to which each bond is priced under accepted bond practice.
The Table is based on data and assumptions as to maturity and redemption  dates,
bond  pricing dates and  call dates, if any,  as of the date  of deposit, and is
thus subject to  change. Accordingly,  Unitholders should not  assume that  they
will in fact receive cash in the amounts and on the dates specified in the Table
and the Table cannot be used to predict the exact amount of distributions by the
Trust.
 
    The   Table  shows  the  amount  of  each  month's  interest  and  principal
distributions on one Unit  of the Trust if  every bond in the  Trust were to  be
redeemed  on the  date to which  it is priced  (the " 'priced  to' date"). Under
accepted bond  pricing practice,  tax-exempt bonds  are customarily  offered  to
investors  on a "yield price" basis,  which involves computation of yield either
to maturity or to an  earlier call date, whichever  produces the lower yield.  A
bond  whose market value exceeds its par value (a "premium bond") will generally
be priced to its call date, if any; in other words, its "priced to" date is  its
call  date. In contrast, the "priced to"  date for discount bonds will generally
be the maturity date. Because none of the Bonds in the Trust have optional  call
dates,  each Bond  in the  Trust is  priced to  its maturity  date regardless of
whether the Bond is a  discount or a premium bond,  i.e. the Table assumes  that
each  Bond will remain  in the Trust  until maturity. There  can be no assurance
that every Bond will in fact remain in the Trust until maturity. Some Bonds  may
be  sold by  the Trustee  before maturity,  either to  pay Unitholders  who have
redeemed their Units or pursuant to  the Sponsor's continuing program of  credit
surveillance. Certain Bonds may be subject to to
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
sinking  fund redemptions or extraordinary  redemptions, as more fully described
below at "Composition of Trusts--Sale, maturity and redemption of bonds"
 
    The Trust's actual cash flow  will depend on (1)  the extent to which  Bonds
are sold as a result of the Sponsor's continuing program of credit surveillence,
and  (2) the extent to which  Bonds are sold to pay  for units redeemed. For the
reasons above, it is unlikely that interest and principal will be distributed in
the amounts and on the dates indicated in the Table.
 
            ESTIMATED PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST DISTRIBUTIONS PER UNIT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Month                     Monthly
  /Year                     Option
- ---------                 -----------
<S>        <C>            <C>
                           $
 Jun 95                       0.2763
 Jul 95                       0.3768
 Aug 95                       0.3768
 Sep 95                       0.3768
 Oct 95                       0.3768
 Nov 95                       0.3768
 Dec 95                       0.3768
 Jan 96                       0.3768
 Feb 96                       0.3768
 Mar 96                       0.3768
 Apr 96                       0.3768
 May 96                       0.3768
 Jun 96                       0.3768
 Jul 96                       0.3768
 Aug 96                       0.3768
 Sep 96                       0.3768
 Oct 96                       0.3768
 Nov 96                       0.3768
 Dec 96                       0.3768
 Jan 97                       0.3768
 Feb 97                       0.3768
 Mar 97                       0.3768
 Apr 97                       0.3768
 May 97                       0.3768
 Jun 97                       0.3768
 Jul 97                       0.3768
 Aug 97                       0.3768
 Sep 97                       0.3768
 Oct 97                       0.3768
 Nov 97                       0.3768
 Dec 97                       0.3768
 Jan 98                       0.3768
 Feb 98                       0.3768
 Mar 98                       0.3768
 
<CAPTION>
  Month                     Monthly
  /Year                     Option
- ---------                 -----------
<S>        <C>            <C>
                           $
 Apr 98                       0.3768
 May 98                       0.3768
 Jun 98                       0.3768
 Jul 98                       0.3768
 Aug 98                       0.3768
 Sep 98                       0.3768
 Oct 98                       0.3768
 Nov 98                       0.3768
 Dec 98                       0.3768
 Jan 99                       0.3768
 Feb 99                       0.3768
 Mar 99                       0.3768
 Apr 99                       0.3768
 May 99                       0.3768
 Jun 99                       0.3768
 Jul 99                       0.3768
 Aug 99                       0.3768
 Sep 99                       0.3768
 Oct 99                       0.3768
 Nov 99                       0.3768
 Dec 99                       0.3768
 Jan 00                      35.9323
 Feb 00                       5.7986
 Mar 00                       0.2215
 Apr 00                       0.2215
 May 00                      20.2215
 Jun 00                       0.1448
 Jul 00                      11.2559
 Aug 00                       0.1040
 Sep 00                      11.2151
 Oct 00                       5.6188
 Nov 00                       0.0456
 Dec 00                       0.0456
 Jan 01                      11.1567
</TABLE>
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
NATIONALLY DIVERSIFIED TRUST TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
(SHORT INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST)
 
    The following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current  returns
for  individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current returns
under  published  1995  marginal  Federal  tax  rates.  The  tables  incorporate
increased  tax  rates for  higher-income tax  payers that  were included  in the
Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993. The tables illustrate what you would have to
earn on taxable investments to equal the tax-exempt estimated current return for
your income tax bracket. A taxpayer's marginal tax rate is affected by both  his
taxable  income and his adjusted gross income. Locate your adjusted gross income
and your taxable  income (which  is your adjusted  gross income  reduced by  any
deductions  and  exemptions), then  locate your  tax bracket  based on  joint or
single tax  filing. Read  across  to the  equivalent taxable  estimated  current
return you would need to match the tax-free income.
 
  MARGINAL FEDERAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED
    TAXABLE        GROSS                                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      3.75%   4.00%   4.25%   4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      15.0   %     4.41    4.71    5.00    5.29    5.59    5.88    6.18    6.47
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      28.0         5.21    5.56    5.90    6.25    6.60    6.94    7.29    7.64
                 114.7-172.1      29.0         5.28    5.63    5.99    6.34    6.69    7.04    7.39    7.75
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      31.0         5.43    5.80    6.16    6.52    6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97
                 114.7-172.1      32.0         5.51    5.88    6.25    6.62    6.99    7.35    7.72    8.09
                 172.1-294.6      34.5         5.73    6.11    6.49    6.87    7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      37.0         5.95    6.35    6.75    7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73
                 172.1-294.6      40.0         6.25    6.67    7.08    7.50    7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17
                  Over 294.6      37.0   2     5.95    6.35    6.75    7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      44.0         6.70    7.14    7.59    8.04    8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82
                  Over 294.6      41.0   3     6.36    6.78    7.20    7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32
</TABLE>
 
  MARGINAL FEDERAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED
    TAXABLE        GROSS                                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      3.75%   4.00%   4.25%   4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      15.0   %     4.41    4.71    5.00    5.29    5.59    5.88    6.18    6.47
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      28.0         5.21    5.56    5.90    6.25    6.60    6.94    7.29    7.64
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      31.0         5.43    5.80    6.16    6.52    6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97
                 114.7-237.2      32.5         5.56    5.93    6.30    6.67    7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      38.0         6.05    6.45    6.85    7.26    7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87
                  Over 237.2      37.0   2     5.95    6.35    6.75    7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      41.0   3     6.36    6.78    7.20    7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32
<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>
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
    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
MAY 9, 1995
SHORT INTERMEDIATE INSURED TRUST 41
(SERIES 801)
    
 
   
<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      The Regents of the University of California,     No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa     $       474,725
                   Refunding Revenue Bonds (Multiple Purpose
                   Projects), Series B, 4.10% Due 9/1/00.
    500,000      State of Connecticut, Special Tax Obligation     No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             470,945
                   Refunding Bonds, Transportation
                   Infrastructure Purposes, 1993 Series B, 4.00%
                   Due 10/1/00.
    500,000      City of Chicago (Illinois), General Obligation   No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             482,650
                   Bonds, Refunding Series 1993B, 4.40% Due
                   1/1/00.
  1,000,000      Indiana Municipal Power Agency, Power Supply     No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa           1,003,570
                   System Refunding Revenue Bonds, 1993 Series
                   B, 5.125% Due 1/1/01.
    500,000      Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Property and     No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             502,270
                   Buildings Commission, Revenue and Revenue
                   Refunding Bonds, Project No. 54, 5.10% Due
                   9/1/00.
    900,000      University of Kentucky, Community Colleges       No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             876,510
                   Educational Buildings, Refunding Revenue
                   Bonds, Second Series, 4.50% Due 5/1/00.
    900,000      Prince George's County, Maryland, General        No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             903,636
                   Obligation Consolidated Public Improvement
                   Bonds, Series 1995, 5.00% Due 1/1/00. (When
                   issued.)
    900,000      Nebraska Public Power District, Electric System  No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             877,860
                   Revenue Bonds, 1993 Series A, 4.50% Due
                   1/1/00.
    500,000      Omaha Public Power District (Nebraska),          No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             498,915
                   Electric System Revenue Bonds, 1993, Series
                   A, 4.85% Due 2/1/00.
    900,000      Dormitory Authority of the State of New York,    No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             905,922
                   State University Educational Facilities
                   Revenue Bonds, Series 1993C, 5.10% Due
                   5/15/00.
    900,000      New York State Urban Development Corporation,    No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             890,730
                   Correctional Facilities Revenue Bonds, 1993A
                   Refunding Series, 4.80% Due 1/1/00.
    500,000      Port of Seattle, Washington, Revenue Refunding   No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             476,565
                   Bonds, Series 1994C, 4.20% Due 7/1/00.
    500,000      Washington Public Power Supply System, Nuclear   No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             497,725
                   Project No. 2 Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series
                   1993B, 5.00% Due 7/1/00.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 9,000,000                                                                                                 $     8,862,023
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 43.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
   
ARIZONA INSURED TRUST 39
    
   
    The  Portfolio of Arizona Insured Trust  39 consists of 6 obligations issued
by entities located in Arizona 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. Five 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; Health Care Facility Revenue, 2;
Municipal Lease Revenue, 1; 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 Arizona
Insured Trust is 21.8  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 13.2% 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 services provided by hospitals or other health care facilities.
 
    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 May 5,  1995
and May 8, 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>
  $3,283,578       $20,139           $190,403      $3,288,092                 .45%
</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 Arizona Insured Trust,  less estimated expenses, is  estimated to accrue  at
the rate of $.01465 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01459  per Unit per day  under the quarterly plan  of distribution and $.01450
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 Arizona  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
ARIZONA INSURED TRUST                                    1995                                  1996                   PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------      --------------
Record Date*..........................        6/1            8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       6/15           8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .3190(1)                                                               $  5.2236
                                                              --------   $.4350 every month   --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .3190(1)   $   .8754(2)   $  1.3131      $  1.3131      $  1.3131      $  5.2556
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .3190(1)                  $  2.1975(3)                  $  2.6370      $  5.2746
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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  5-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--ARIZONA INSURED TRUST
 
    For  a discussion  of the  Federal tax  status of  income earned  on Arizona
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    The assets of the Trust will consist of interest-bearing obligations  issued
by  or  on  behalf  of  the  State  of  Arizona  (the  "State"),  its  political
subdivisions and authorities (the "Arizona Bonds"),  and by or on behalf of  the
government  of Puerto  Rico, the  government of Guam,  or the  government of the
Virgin Islands (collectively the  "Possession Bonds") (collectively the  Arizona
Bonds and Possession Bonds shall be referred to herein as the "Bonds"), provided
the interest on such Bonds is exempt from State income taxes.
 
    In  the opinion of Chapman and Cutler counsel to the Sponsor, under existing
law:
 
        For Arizona income tax purposes, each Unitholder will be treated as  the
    owner  of a pro rata portion of the Arizona Insured Trust, and the income of
    the Trust therefore will  be treated as the  income of the Unitholder  under
    State law.
 
        For  Arizona  income  tax  purposes,  interest  on  the  Bonds  which is
    excludable from Federal gross income and which is exempt from Arizona income
    taxes when  received  by the  Arizona  Insured  Trust, and  which  would  be
    excludable from Federal gross income and exempt from Arizona income taxes if
    received  directly by  a Unitholder,  will retain  its status  as tax-exempt
    interest when received by the Arizona  Insured Trust and distributed to  the
    Unitholders.
 
        To  the extent that interest derived from the Arizona Insured Trust by a
    Unitholder with  respect  to the  Bonds  is excludable  from  Federal  gross
    income, such interest will not be subject to Arizona income taxes.
 
        Each Unitholder will receive taxable gain or loss for Arizona income tax
    purposes  when Bonds held in the  Arizona Insured Trust are sold, exchanged,
    redeemed or paid at maturity, or when the Unitholder redeems or sells Units,
    at a price that differs from  original cost as adjusted for amortization  of
    Bond  discount or premium  and other basis  adjustments, including any basis
    reduction that may be required to reflect a Unitholder's share of  interest,
    if    any,   accruing   on   Bonds   during   the   interval   between   the
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
    Unitholder's settlement date and  the date such Bonds  are delivered to  the
    Arizona Insured Trust, if later.
 
        Amounts paid by the Insurer under an insurance policy or policies issued
    to the Trust, if any, with respect to the Bonds in the Trust which represent
    maturing  interest  on defaulted  obligations held  by  the Trustee  will be
    exempt from State income taxes if, and to the same extent as, such  interest
    would have been so exempt if paid by the issuer of the defaulted obligations
    provided that, at the time such policies are purchased, the amounts paid for
    such  policies are reasonable, customary  and consistent with the reasonable
    expectation that the issuer of the Bonds, rather than the insurer, will  pay
    debt service on the Bonds.
 
        Arizona law does not permit a deduction for interest paid or incurred on
    indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry Units in the Arizona
    Insured Trust, the interest on which is exempt from Arizona income taxes.
 
        Neither  the Bonds  nor the  Units will  be subject  to Arizona property
    taxes, sales tax or use tax.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--ARIZONA
 
    GENERAL ECONOMIC  CONDITIONS.   The following  brief summary  regarding  the
economy  of  Arizona is  based upon  information  drawn from  publicly available
sources and  is included  for the  purpose of  providing the  information  about
general  economic conditions that may  or may not affect  issuers of the Arizona
Bonds. The  Sponsor  has  not  independently verified  any  of  the  information
contained in such publicly available documents.
 
    Arizona is the nation's sixth largest state in terms of area. Arizona's main
economic/ employment sectors include services, tourism and manufacturing. Mining
and agriculture are also significant, although they tend to be more capital than
labor  intensive. Services is the single  largest economic sector. Many of these
jobs are directly related to tourism.
 
    The unemployment rate in  Arizona for 1993  was 6.2% and  for 1992 was  7.4%
compared  to a national rate of 6.8% in 1993 and 7.4% in 1992. Job growth may be
adversely affected by the closing of a major air force base near Phoenix and the
bankruptcy of several major employers, including America West Airlines.
 
    In 1986, the value of Arizona real estate began a steady decline, reflecting
a market  which had  been overbuilt  in  the previous  decade with  a  resulting
surplus  of  completed  inventory.  This  decline  adversely  affected  both the
construction  industry  and  those  Arizona  financial  institutions  which  had
aggressively  pursued many  facets of real  estate lending. In  the near future,
Arizona's financial institutions are likely  to continue to experience  problems
until  the  excess  inventories  of commercial  and  residential  properties are
absorbed. The problems  of the  financial institutions  have adversely  affected
employment  and economic  activity. Longer-term prospects  are brighter. Arizona
has been, and is projected to continue  to be, one of the fastest growing  areas
in  the United States. Over the last several decades the State has outpaced most
other regions  of the  country  in virtually  every  major category  of  growth,
including population, personal income, gross state product and job creation.
 
    BUDGETARY  PROCESS.  Arizona operates on a  fiscal year beginning July 1 and
ending June 30. Fiscal year 1995 refers to the year ending June 30, 1995.
 
    Total General Fund revenues of $4.3 billion are expected during fiscal  year
1995.  Approximately 44.5%  of this  budgeted revenue  comes from  sales and use
taxes, 44.4% from  income taxes (both  individual and corporate)  and 4.4%  from
property  taxes. All taxes  total approximately $4.0 billion,  or 93% of General
Fund revenues. Non-tax  revenue includes  items such  as income  from the  state
lottery, licenses, fees and permits, and interest.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
    For  fiscal year 1994,  the budget called  for expenditures of approximately
$4.1 billion.  These  expenditures fell  into  the following  major  categories:
education  (47.4%), health  and welfare  (26.3%), protection  and safety (4.0%),
general government  (15.5%) and  inspection and  regulation, natural  resources,
transportation  and  other (6.8%).  The  State's general  fund  expenditures for
fiscal year 1995 are budgeted at approximately $4.7 billion.
 
    Most or all of  the Bonds of  the Arizona Trust are  not obligations of  the
State  of  Arizona, and  are not  supported  by the  State's taxing  powers. The
particular source of payment and security for  each of the Bonds is detailed  in
the  instruments themselves and  in related offering materials.  There can be no
assurances, however, with respect to  whether the market value or  marketability
of  any of the Bonds issued by an entity other than the State of Arizona will be
affected by the  financial or  other condition  of the  State or  of any  entity
located  within the  State. In addition,  it should  be noted that  the State of
Arizona, as well as counties,  municipalities, political subdivisions and  other
public authorities of the state, are subject to limitations imposed by Arizona's
constitution  with respect to ad valorem taxation, bonded indebtedness and other
matters. For  example,  the state  legislature  cannot appropriate  revenues  in
excess of 7% of the total personal income of the state in any fiscal year. These
limitations  may  affect the  ability  of the  issuers  to generate  revenues to
satisfy their debt obligations.
 
    Although most of the Bonds in  the Arizona Trust are revenue obligations  of
local  governments or authorities in  the State, there can  be no assurance that
the fiscal and economic conditions referred to above will not affect the  market
value or marketability of the Bonds or the ability of the respective obligors to
pay principal of and interest on the Bonds when due.
 
    On  July  21,  1994,  the  Arizona Supreme  Court  rendered  its  opinion in
ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 66, ET AL V.C. DIANNE BISHOP, ET  AL
(the  "ROOSEVELT OPINION"). In this opinion, the Arizona Supreme Court held that
the present statutory  financing scheme  for public  education in  the State  of
Arizona does not comply with the Arizona constitution. Subsequently, the Arizona
School Boards Association, with the approval of the appellants and the appellees
to  the Roosevelt Opinion, and certain  Arizona school districts, filed with the
Arizona Supreme  Court  motions  for clarification  of  the  Roosevelt  Opinion,
specifically  with respect to  seeking prospective application  of the Roosevelt
Opinion. On July  29, 1994, the  Arizona Supreme Court  clarified the  Roosevelt
Opinion to hold that such opinion will have prospective effect only.
 
    Certain  other circumstances are relevant to the market value, marketability
and payment of any hospital and health care revenue bonds in the Arizona  Trust.
The Arizona Legislature has in the past sought to enact health care cost control
legislation.  Certain  other health  care regulatory  laws  have expired.  It is
expected that  the  Arizona legislature  will  at future  sessions  continue  to
attempt  to adopt  legislation concerning health  care cost  control and related
regulatory matters.  The effect  of any  such legislation  or of  the  continued
absence  of any legislation restricting hospital  bed increases and limiting new
hospital construction on the ability of Arizona hospitals and other health  care
providers  to pay debt  service on their  revenue bonds cannot  be determined at
this time.
 
    Arizona does not participate in the federally administered Medicaid program.
Instead, the State  administers an alternative  program, AHCCCS, which  provides
health   care  to   indigent  persons  meeting   certain  financial  eligibility
requirements, through managed  care programs.  In fiscal year  1994, AHCCCS  was
financed  approximately 60%  by federal  funds, 29% by  state funds,  and 11% by
county funds.
 
    Under state  law,  hospitals  retain  the  authority  to  raise  rates  with
notification  and review  by, but  not approval  from, the  Department of Health
Services. Hospitals  in Arizona  have experienced  profitability problems  along
with those in other states. At least two Phoenix
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
based hospitals have defaulted on or reported difficulties in meeting their bond
obligations during the past three years.
 
    Insofar as tax-exempt Arizona public utility pollution control revenue bonds
are concerned, the issuance of such bonds and the periodic rate increases needed
to  cover operating  costs and  debt service  are subject  to regulation  by the
Arizona Corporation Commission,  the only significant  exception being the  Salt
River  Project Agricultural Improvement  and Power District  which, as a Federal
instrumentality, is  exempt from  rate  regulation. On  July 15,  1991,  several
creditors of Tucson Electric Power Company ("Tucson Electric") filed involuntary
petitions  under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to force Tucson Power to
reorganize under the supervision of the bankruptcy court. On December 31,  1991,
the  Bankruptcy Court approved the utility's motion to dismiss the July petition
after five months of negotiations between  Tucson Electric and its creditors  to
restructure  the utility's debts and other obligations. In December 1992, Tucson
Electric announced that it had completed its financial restructuring. In January
1993, Tucson  Electric  asked the  Arizona  Corporation Commission  for  a  9.3%
average  rate increase. Tucson Electric  serves approximately 270,000 customers,
primarily in  the Tucson  area. Inability  of any  regulated public  utility  to
secure  necessary rate  increases could  adversely affect,  to an indeterminable
extent, its ability to pay debt service on its pollution control revenue bonds.
 
    Based on a  recent U.S. Supreme  Court ruling, the  State has determined  to
refund  $197  million,  including  statutory  interest,  in  State  income taxes
previously collected from Federal retirees on their pensions. This payment  will
be  made over a  four-year period beginning with  approximately $14.6 million in
tax refunds in fiscal year 1993-94. A combination of tax refunds and tax credits
will be used to satisfy this liability.
 
ARIZONA 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.
 
                                       26
<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      4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      18.0   %     5.79    6.10    6.40    6.71    7.01    7.32    7.62    7.93
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                 114.7-172.1      32.0         6.99    7.35    7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19    9.56
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      34.5         7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92
                 114.7-172.1      35.5         7.36    7.75    8.14    8.53    8.91    9.30    9.69   10.08
                 172.1-294.6      38.0         7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      40.5         7.98    8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92
                 172.1-294.6      43.0         8.33    8.77    9.21    9.65   10.09   10.53   10.96   11.40
                  Over 294.6      40.5   2     7.98    8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      47.0         8.96    9.43    9.91   10.38   10.85   11.32   11.79   12.26
                  Over 294.6      44.0   3     8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61
</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      4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      18.0   %     5.79    6.10    6.40    6.71    7.01    7.32    7.62    7.93
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      31.5         6.93    7.30    7.66    8.03    8.39    8.76    9.12    9.49
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      34.5         7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92
                 114.7-237.2      36.0         7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      41.5         8.12    8.55    8.97    9.40    9.83   10.26   10.68   11.11
                  Over 237.2      40.5   2     7.98    8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      44.0   3     8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61
<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.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
MAY 9, 1995
ARIZONA INSURED TRUST 39
(SERIES 801)
    
 
   
<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      Arizona Municipal Financing Program of 1992,        2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       471,270
                   Refunding Certificates of Participation,
                   Series 4, 5.50% Due 8/1/19.
    500,000      City of Phoenix Civic Improvement Corporation       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             443,545
                   (Arizona), Wastewater System Lease Revenue
                   Refunding Bonds, Series 1993, 5.00% Due
                   7/1/18.
    500,000      The Industrial Development Authority of the      No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             472,930
                   County of Pima, Arizona, Health Care System
                   Revenue Bonds, Carondelet Health Care
                   Corporation of Arizona Issue, Series 1993,
                   5.25% Due 7/1/12.
    500,000      City of Tucson, Arizona, General Obligation         2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             483,800
                   Refunding Bonds, Series 1995, 5.50% Due
                   7/1/12.
    500,000      City of Tucson, Arizona, Senior Lien Street and     2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             471,395
                   Highway User Revenue Bonds, Series 1994-A
                   (1995), 5.35% Due 7/1/14.
    500,000      University Medical Center Corporation (Tucson,      2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             437,365
                   Arizona), Hospital Revenue Refunding Bonds,
                   Series 1993, 5.00% Due 7/1/21. (Original
                   issue discount bonds delivered on or about
                   June 8, 1993 at a price of 90.122% of
                   principal amount.)
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa
                   Bonds of 1994 (General Obligation Bonds),
                 195M-6.45% Due 7/1/17,                                                                             203,650
                 305M-6.50% Due 7/1/23.                                                                             319,762
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,303,717
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 43.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
   
NEW YORK INSURED TRUST 235
    
 
   
    The Portfolio of New York Insured Trust 235 consists of 8 obligations issued
by  entities located in New York. 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; Bridge and Toll Road Revenue, 2;
College and University Revenue, 1; Transportation Facility Revenue, 1; Municipal
Lease  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 New  York
Insured  Trust is 25.3  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 32.8% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in  the
Trust (accounting for approximately 30.9% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds)  are original issue discount obligations. Certain of these original issue
discount obligations, amounting to  2.8% of the  aggregate principal amount  and
.7% of the aggregate offering price of the Bonds in the Trust, are "zero coupon"
bonds.  See  "GENERAL  TRUST  INFORMATION--ORIGINAL  ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS  AND
STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for  a  discussion   of  the  characteristics  of   such
obligations and of the risks associated therewith.
    
 
    Approximately  30% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in the
Trust consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily  derived
from bridge, road or tunnel toll revenues.
 
    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 on May 8, 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>
  $3,782,598       $17,663           $224,110      $3,782,036                 .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 New York Insured Trust, less  estimated expenses, is estimated to accrue  at
the rate of $.01510 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01504  per Unit per day  under the quarterly plan  of distribution and $.01495
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
    
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
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 New  York 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
NEW YORK INSURED TRUST                                   1995                                  1996                   PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------      --------------
Record Date*..........................        6/1            8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       6/15           8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .3289(1)                                                               $  5.3856
                                                              --------   $.4485 every month   --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .3289(1)   $   .9024(2)   $  1.3536      $  1.3536      $  1.3536      $  5.4176
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .3289(1)                  $  2.2650(3)                  $  2.7180      $  5.4366
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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  5-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--NEW YORK INSURED TRUST
 
    For  a discussion  of the Federal  tax status  of income earned  on New York
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    In the opinion of Edwards & Angell,  special counsel for the Series for  New
York tax matters, under existing law:
 
        Interest   on  obligations  issued  by   New  York  State,  a  political
    subdivision thereof, Puerto  Rico, the  Virgin Islands,  Guam, the  Northern
    Mariana  Islands,  or  other possessions  of  the United  States  within the
    meaning of Section 103(c) of the  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as  amended
    ("New  York Obligations"), which would be exempt  from New York State or New
    York City personal  income tax if  directly received by  a Unitholder,  will
    retain  its  status as  tax-exempt interest  when received  by the  New York
    Insured Trust (the "Trust") and distributed to such Unitholder.
 
        Interest (less amortizable premium, if any) derived from the Trust by  a
    resident  of New  York State  (or New York  City) in  respect of obligations
    issued by states other than New York (or their political subdivisions)  will
    be subject to New York State (or New York City) personal income tax.
 
        A Unitholder who is a resident of New York State (or New York City) will
    be  subject to New  York State (or  New York City)  personal income tax with
    respect to gains  realized when New  York Obligations held  in the New  York
    Insured   Trust  are  sold,  redeemed  or  paid  at  maturity  or  when  the
    Unitholder's Units are sold or redeemed;  such gain will equal the  proceeds
    of sale, redemption or payment less the tax basis of the New York Obligation
    or Unit (adjusted to reflect (a) the amortization of premium or discount, if
    any,  on New York Obligations held by  the Trust, (b) accrued original issue
    discount, with respect to  each New York Obligation  which, at the time  the
    New  York Obligation  was issued, had  original issue discount,  and (c) the
    deposit of New York Obligations with accrued interest in the Trust after the
    Unitholder's settlement date).
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
        Interest or gain from  the Trust derived  by a Unitholder  who is not  a
    resident  of New York  State (or New York  City) will not  be subject to New
    York State (or  New York  City) personal income  tax, unless  the Units  are
    property  employed in a business, trade, profession or occupation carried on
    in New York State (or New York City).
 
        In the case  of the  Trust, amounts  paid under  the insurance  policies
    representing maturing interest on defaulted New York Obligations held by the
    Trustee  in the Trust  will be excludable  from New York  State and New York
    City income if, and  to the same  extent as, such  interest would have  been
    excludable if paid by the respective issuer.
 
        For  purposes of the New  York State and New  York City franchise tax on
    corporations, Unitholders which are subject to such tax will be required  to
    include in their entire net income any interest or gains distributed to them
    even   though  distributed  in  respect  of  obligations  of  any  state  or
    subdivision thereof including New York.
 
        If borrowed funds are used to purchase Units in the Trust, all (or part)
    of the interest  on such indebtedness  will not be  deductible for New  York
    State  and  New  York  City  tax purposes.  The  purchase  of  Units  may be
    considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds  are
    not directly traceable to the purchase of Units in any New York Trust.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--NEW YORK
 
    The  Portfolio of the New York  Insured Trust includes obligations issued by
New York State  (the "State"), by  its various public  bodies (the  "Agencies"),
and/or  by other entities  located within the  State, including the  City of New
York (the "City").
 
    Some of the more significant events and conditions relating to the financial
situation in New York are summarized  below. This section provides only a  brief
summary of the complex factors affecting the financial situation in New York and
is  derived  from  sources that  are  generally  available to  investors  and is
believed to  be  accurate.  It is  based  in  part on  Official  Statements  and
prospectuses issued by, and on other information reported by the State, the City
and the Agencies in connection with the issuance of their respective securities.
 
    There  can  be no  assurance that  current or  future statewide  or regional
economic difficulties, and  the resulting  impact on State  or local  government
finances  generally,  will not  adversely affect  the market  value of  New York
Municipal Obligations  held in  the portfolio  of the  Trust or  the ability  of
particular  obligors to make timely payments of debt service on (or relating to)
those obligations.
 
    (1) THE STATE: The State has historically been one of the wealthiest  states
in  the nation. For  decades, however, the  State economy has  grown more slowly
than that  of the  nation as  a whole,  gradually eroding  the State's  relative
economic  affluence.  Statewide,  urban  centers  have  experienced  significant
changes involving migration of the more affluent to the suburbs and an influx of
generally less affluent residents. Regionally,  the older Northeast cities  have
suffered because of the relative success that the South and the West have had in
attracting  people  and  business.  The  City  has  also  had  to  face  greater
competition  as  other  major  cities  have  developed  financial  and  business
capabilities  which  make  them  less  dependent  on  the  specialized  services
traditionally available almost exclusively in the City.
 
    The State has  for many years  had a very  high state and  local tax  burden
relative to other states. The burden of State and local taxation, in combination
with  the many other causes of regional economic dislocation, has contributed to
the decisions of  some businesses and  individuals to relocate  outside, or  not
locate within, the State.
 
    SLOWDOWN  OF REGIONAL ECONOMY.  A national recession  commenced in mid-1990.
The downturn  continued  throughout the  State's  1990-91 fiscal  year  and  was
followed by a period
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
of  weak economic growth during the 1991  calendar year. For calendar year 1992,
the national economy continued to recover, although at a rate below all post-war
recoveries. For calendar year  1993, the economy grew  faster than in 1992,  but
still  at  a  very moderate  rate,  as  compared to  other  recoveries. Moderate
economic growth is  expected to  continue in calendar  year 1994  at a  slightly
faster  rate than in  1993. Economic recovery started  considerably later in the
State than in the nation as a whole due in part to the significant  retrenchment
in  the banking and  financial services industries,  downsizing by several major
corporations,  cutbacks  in  defense  spending,  and  an  oversupply  of  office
buildings.  Many uncertainties exist in forecasts of both the national and State
economies and there can be no assurance that the State economy will perform at a
level sufficient to meet the State's projections of receipts and disbursements.
 
    1994-95 FISCAL YEAR. The Governor presented the recommended Executive Budget
for the 1994-95 fiscal year on January  18, 1994 and amended it on February  17,
1994.  the Recommended 1994-95 State Financial  Plan projects a balanced General
Fund, receipts and transfers  from other funds at  $33.422 billion (including  a
projected  $339 million surplus anticipated for the State's 1993-94 fiscal year)
and disbursements and transfers to other funds at $33.399 billion.
 
    The recommended 1994-95  Executive Budget  includes tax  and fee  reductions
($210  million), retention of revenues currently received, primarily by deferral
of a  scheduled  personal  income  tax  rate  reduction  ($1.244  billion),  and
additional  increases to miscellaneous revenue  sources ($237 million). No major
additional programs are recommended other than a $198 million increase in school
aid, $185 million in Medicaid  cost-containment initiatives and $110 million  in
local government Medicaid costs to be assumed by the State.
 
    There  can  be  no  assurance  that the  State  Legislature  will  enact the
Executive  Budget  as  proposed,  nor  can  there  be  any  assurance  that  the
Legislature will enact a budget for the State's 1994-95 fiscal year prior to its
commencement.  A delay in  its enactment may  negatively affect certain proposed
actions and reduce projected savings.
 
    1993-94 FISCAL YEAR. The  1993-94 State Financial Plan  issued on April  16,
1993  projected General Fund receipts and  transfers from other funds at $32.367
billion and disbursements and  transfers to other funds  at $32.300 billion.  In
comparison to the Governor's recommended Executive Budget for the 1993-94 fiscal
year,  as  revised  on  February  18, 1993,  the  1993-94  State  Financial Plan
reflected increases in both  receipts and disbursements in  the General Fund  of
$811 million.
 
    The  1993-94 State Financial Plan was last  revised on January 18, 1994. The
State projects a surplus  of $299 million, as  the result of developments  which
positively  impacted upon receipts  and disbursements. In  the revised Plan, the
State announced its intention to pay  a 53rd weekly Medicaid payment,  estimated
at $120 million, and to add $82 million to a reserve fund for contingencies.
 
    On  January 21, 1994, the State entered into a settlement with Delaware with
respect to STATE OF DELAWARE V. STATE  OF NEW YORK, which is discussed below  at
STATE  LITIGATION. The State made an immediate $35 million payment and agreed to
make a $33 million  annual payment in  each of the next  five fiscal years.  The
State  has not settled with other parties to the litigation and will continue to
incur litigation expenses as to those claims.
 
    On November  16, 1993,  the Court  of Appeals,  the State's  highest  court,
affirmed  the  decision  of  a  lower court  in  three  actions,  which declared
unconstitutional State actuarial funding methods for determining State and local
contributions to the State employee  retirement system. Following the  decision,
the  State Comptroller  developed a  plan to  phase in  a constitutional funding
method and to restore prior funding levels of the retirement systems over a four
year period. The plan is  not expected to require  the State to make  additional
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
contributions  with respect  to the  1993-94 fiscal  year nor  to materially and
adversely affect the State's financial condition thereafter. Through fiscal year
1998-99, the State  expects to contribute  $643 million more  to the  retirement
plans than would have been required under the prior funding method.
 
    FUTURE  FISCAL YEARS. There can be no assurance that the State will not face
substantial potential budget  gaps in  the future resulting  from a  significant
disparity  between tax revenues  projected from a  lower recurring receipts base
and the  spending required  to maintain  State programs  at current  levels.  To
address   any  potential  budgetary  imbalance,  the  State  may  need  to  take
significant actions to align recurring receipts and disbursements.
 
    INDEBTEDNESS. As of December 31, 1993,  the total amount of long-term  State
general obligation debt authorized but unissued stood at $2.3 billion. As of the
same  date, the State had approximately $5.0 billion in general obligation bonds
and $2.94 million  of Bond Anticipation  Notes ("BANS"). The  State issued  $850
million  in tax and revenue anticipation notes  ("TRANS") on May 4, all of which
matured on December 31, 1993. The State does not project the need to issue TRANS
during the State's 1994-95 fiscal year.
 
    The State anticipates that  its borrowings for  capital purposes during  the
State's  1994-95 fiscal year will consist  of $413 million in general obligation
bonds and BANS.  The projection of  the State regarding  its borrowings for  the
1994-95  fiscal  year  may  change  if  actual  receipts  fall  short  of  State
projections or if other circumstances require.
 
    In  June  1990,  legislation  was  enacted  creating  the  "New  York  Local
Government  Assistance  Corporation"  ("LGAC"),  a  public  benefit  corporation
empowered to  issue long-term  obligations  to fund  certain payments  to  local
governments  traditionally funded through the State's annual seasonal borrowing.
As of February 28, 1994,  LGAC has issued its bonds  to provide net proceeds  of
$3.7  billion. The Governor has recommended  the issuance of additional bonds to
provide net proceeds of $315 million during the State's 1994-95 fiscal year.
 
    The Legislature  passed  a  proposed constitutional  amendment  which  would
permit  the State subject to certain restrictions to issue revenue bonds without
voter referendum. Among the restrictions proposed  is that such bonds would  not
be  backed by the  full faith and credit  of the State.  The Governor intends to
submit changes to the proposed  amendment, which before becoming effective  must
be passed again by the next separately-elected Legislature and approved by voter
referendum  at a  general election.  The earliest  such an  amendment could take
effect would be in November 1995.
 
    RATINGS.  The $850 million in TRANS  issued by the State in April 1993  were
rated  SP-1-Plus by  S&P on April  26, 1993, and  MIG-1 by Moody's  on April 23,
1993, which represents the highest ratings given by such agencies and the  first
time  the State's  TRANS have  received these ratings  since its  May 1989 TRANS
issuance. Both  agencies  cited  the  State's  improved  fiscal  position  as  a
significant factor in the upgrading of the April 1993 TRANS.
 
    Moody's  rating of the State's general obligation  bonds stood at A on April
23, 1993, and S&P's rating stood at A- with a stable outlook on April 26,  1993,
an  improvement from  S&P's negative  outlook prior  to April  1993. Previously,
Moody's lowered its rating to A on June 6, 1990, its rating having been A1 since
May 27, 1986. S&P  lowered its rating from  A to A- on  January 13, 1992.  S&P's
previous ratings were A from March 1990 to January 1992, AA- from August 1987 to
March 1990 and A+ from November 1982 to August 1987.
 
    Moody's  maintained  its  A  rating  and  S&P  continued  its  A-  rating in
connection with the State's issuance of $224.1 million of its general obligation
bonds in March 1994.
 
    (2) THE  CITY AND  THE MUNICIPAL  ASSISTANCE CORPORATION  ("MAC"): The  City
accounts  for approximately 41%  of the State's  population and personal income,
and the City's financial health affects the State in numerous ways.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
    In response to the City's fiscal crisis in 1975, the State took a number  of
steps  to assist the City in returning to fiscal stability. Among other actions,
the State Legislature (i) created MAC to assist with long-term financing for the
City's short-term debt and  other cash requirements and  (ii) created the  State
Financial  Control Board (the "Control Board")  to review and approve the City's
budgets and City four-year  financial plans (the financial  plans also apply  to
certain City-related public agencies (the "Covered Organizations")).
 
    Over  the past  three years,  the rate  of economic  growth in  the City has
slowed substantially,  and the  City's economy  is currently  in recession.  The
Mayor  is  responsible  for  preparing  the  City's  four-year  financial  plan,
including the City's  current financial  plan. The City  Comptroller has  issued
reports  concluding that the recession of the City's economy will be more severe
and last longer than is assumed in the financial plan.
 
    FISCAL YEAR 1993 AND 1994-1997 FINANCIAL PLAN.  The City's 1993 fiscal  year
results  are  projected to  be balanced  in  accordance with  generally accepted
accounting principles  ("GAAP").  The City  was  required to  close  substantial
budget  gaps  in its  1990,  1991 and  1992 fiscal  years  in order  to maintain
balanced operating results.
 
    On August 10, 1993, the City adopted and submitted to the Control Board  its
Financial  Plan for fiscal  years 1994-1997, which  was subsequently modified on
November 23, 1993. As  modified in November 1993,  the Plan projects a  balanced
budget for fiscal year 1994 based upon revenues of $31.585 billion, and projects
budget  gaps of $1.7 billion, $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion in fiscal years 1995
through 1997, respectively.
 
    During December  1993, a  three-member  panel appointed  by the  Mayor,  the
Office  of  the State  Deputy  Comptroller and  the  Control Board,  each issued
reports that were critical  of the City's 1994-1996  Financial Plan. While  each
report  noted  improvement in  the  outlook for  fiscal  year 1994,  the reports
indicated that the  budget gap for  fiscal year 1995  could be as  much as  $450
million higher than projected and that the budget gap might continue to increase
in  later years to as  much as $1.5 billion  above current projections by fiscal
year 1997. Recommendations included addressing the City's tax and cost structure
to maximize revenues on a recurring basis and minimize expenditures, a review of
capital  spending  plans,   service  cuts,  productivity   gains  and   economic
development measures.
 
    On  February  2,  1994,  the Mayor  proposed  further  modifications  to the
1994-1997 Financial Plan. The Mayor's  proposed Plan projects a balanced  budget
for  fiscal  year 1994,  assuming revenues  of $31.735  billion, and  includes a
reserve of  $198 million.  The proposed  modification projects  budget gaps  for
fiscal years 1995, 1996 and 1997 of $2.3 billion, $3.2 billion and $3.3 billion,
respectively.  The Mayor  identified $2.2  billion in  gap closing  measures for
fiscal year 1995. Implementation of these measures will require the  cooperation
of  municipal  labor  unions,  the  City  Council  and  the  State  and  Federal
governments. The Mayor's proposal  includes a tax  reduction program which  will
have a financial impact on later years.
 
    Given  the foregoing factors, there  can be no assurance  that the City will
continue to  maintain a  balanced budget,  or that  it can  maintain a  balanced
budget  without additional tax or other  revenue increases or reductions in City
services, which could adversely affect the City's economic base.
 
    Pursuant to State law, the City prepares a four-year annual financial  plan,
which is reviewed and revised on a quarterly basis and which includes the City's
capital,  revenue and  expense projections. The  City is required  to submit its
financial plans to review bodies, including the Control Board. If the City  were
to  experience certain adverse financial circumstances, including the occurrence
or the  substantial likelihood  and imminence  of the  occurrence of  an  annual
operating  deficit of more than $100 million or the loss of access to the public
credit  markets  to   satisfy  the   City's  capital   and  seasonal   financial
requirements, the
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
Control  Board  would  be required  by  State  law to  exercise  certain powers,
including prior  approval  of  City financial  plans,  proposed  borrowings  and
certain contracts.
 
    The  City depends  on the  State for State  aid both  to enable  the City to
balance its budget and to meet  its cash requirements. If the State  experiences
revenue  shortfalls or spending increases beyond its projections during its 1993
fiscal year or subsequent years, such developments could result in reductions in
projected State aid to  the City. In  addition, there can  be no assurance  that
State  budgets in future fiscal  years will be adopted  by the April 1 statutory
deadline and that there will not be adverse effects on the City's cash flow  and
additional City expenditures as a result of such delays.
 
    The  City projections set forth  in its financial plan  are based on various
assumptions and contingencies which are uncertain and which may not materialize.
Changes in major assumptions  could significantly affect  the City's ability  to
balance its budget as required by State law and to meet its annual cash flow and
financing requirements. Such assumptions and contingencies include the timing of
any  regional  and local  economic recovery,  the absence  of wage  increases in
excess of  the  increases assumed  in  its financial  plan,  employment  growth,
provision  of  State  and  Federal aid  and  mandate  relief,  State legislative
approval of future  State budgets, levels  of education expenditures  as may  be
required  by State  law, adoption of  future City  budgets by the  New York City
Council, and  approval  by  the  Governor  or  the  State  Legislature  and  the
cooperation  of  MAC with  respect  to various  other  actions proposed  in such
financial plan.
 
    The City's ability to maintain a  balanced operating budget is dependant  on
whether  it  can implement  necessary service  and personnel  reduction programs
successfully. As discussed above, the City must identify additional  expenditure
reductions  and revenue sources to achieve balanced operating budgets for fiscal
years 1994  and thereafter.  Any such  proposed expenditure  reductions will  be
difficult  to implement  because of their  size and  the substantial expenditure
reductions already imposed on City operations in the past two years.
 
    Attaining a balanced  budget is also  dependent upon the  City's ability  to
market  its securities  successfully in  the public  credit markets.  The City's
financing program  for  fiscal  years 1994  through  1997  contemplates  capital
spending  of $16.2  billion, which  will be  financed through  issuance of $10.5
billion of general  obligation bonds,  $4.3 billion of  Water Authority  Revenue
Bonds  and the balance by Covered Organization obligations, and will be utilized
primarily to reconstruct and rehabilitate the City's infrastructure and physical
assets and  to make  capital investments.  A significant  portion of  such  bond
financing  is used to reimburse the City's general fund for capital expenditures
already incurred.  In addition,  the City  issues revenue  and tax  anticipation
notes  to  finance  its seasonal  working  capital requirements.  The  terms and
success of projected  public sales of  City general obligation  bonds and  notes
will  be subject to prevailing market conditions at the time of the sale, and no
assurance can be given that the credit markets will absorb the projected amounts
of public bond and note sales.  In addition, future developments concerning  the
City  and public  discussion of such  developments, the  City's future financial
needs and  other issues  may  affect the  market  for outstanding  City  general
obligation  bonds  and  notes. If  the  City  were unable  to  sell  its general
obligation bonds  and notes,  it would  be prevented  from meeting  its  planned
operating and capital expenditures.
 
    FISCAL  YEARS 1990,  1991 AND  1992.   The City  achieved balanced operating
results as reported in accordance with GAAP for the 1992 fiscal year. During the
1990 and 1991  fiscal years, the  City implemented various  actions to offset  a
projected  budget  deficit  of $3.2  billion  for  the 1991  fiscal  year, which
resulted from declines in City  revenue sources and increased public  assistance
needs  due to the recession. Such actions included $822 million of tax increases
and substantial expenditure reductions.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
    The City is a defendant in a significant number of lawsuits. Such litigation
includes, but is not limited to,  actions commenced and claims asserted  against
the  City arising out  of alleged constitutional  violations, torts, breaches of
contracts, and other violations of  law and condemnation proceedings. While  the
ultimate  outcome and fiscal impact,  if any, on the  proceedings and claims are
not currently predictable, adverse determinations in certain of them might  have
a  material adverse effect  upon the City's  ability to carry  out its financial
plan. As  of  June  30, 1992,  legal  claims  in excess  of  $341  billion  were
outstanding  against the City for which  the City estimated its potential future
liability to be $2.3 billion.
 
    RATINGS.  As of the  date of this prospectus,  Moody's rating of the  City's
general obligation bonds stood at Baa1 and S&P's rating stood at A-. On February
11, 1991, Moody's had lowered its rating from A.
 
    On December 6, 1993, in confirming its Baa1 rating, Moody's noted that:
 
        The  fiscal 1994 budget is nominally  balanced, in part through reliance
    on one-shot revenues, but contains a number  of risks . . . (T)he  financial
    plan . . . shows increased gaps in succeeding years.
 
        The financial plan for fiscal 1995 and beyond shows an ongoing imbalance
    between  the City's expenditures and  revenues . . . A  key risk is that the
    replacement of one-shot revenues is likely to become increasingly  difficult
    over  time.  Moody's continues  to expect  that  the City's  progress toward
    achieving long-term balance will be slow and uneven, but that the City  will
    be diligent and prudent in closing gaps as they arise.
 
    As  discussed above under FISCAL YEAR  1993 AND 1993-1996 FINANCIAL PLAN, on
July 2, 1993  after a  review of  the City's budget  for fiscal  year 1994,  its
proposed  budget  for  fiscal year  1995  and  certain additional  cuts  in both
proposed by the Mayor and the City Comptroller, S&P confirmed its A- rating with
a negative  outlook of  the  City's general  obligation  bonds but  indicated  a
continuing  concern about  budgets for  fiscal year  1995 and  thereafter. S&P's
rating of the City's general obligation bonds remains unchanged.
 
    On October 12, 1993, Moody's increased its rating of the City's issuance  of
$650  million of Tax Anticipation  Notes ("TANs") to MIG-1  from MIG-2. Prior to
that date, on May  9, 1990, Moody's revised  downward its rating on  outstanding
City  revenue anticipation notes from MIG-1 to  MIG-2 and rated the $900 million
Notes then  being  sold MIG-2.  S&P's  rating of  the  October 1993  TANS  issue
increased  to SP-1 from SP-2. Prior to that date, on April 29, 1991, S&P revised
downward its rating on City revenue anticipation notes from SP-1 to SP-2.
 
    As of June 30, 1993, the City  and MAC had, respectively, $19.6 billion  and
$4.5 billion of outstanding net long-term indebtedness.
 
    (3) THE STATE AGENCIES: Certain Agencies of the State have faced substantial
financial difficulties which could adversely affect the ability of such Agencies
to  make payments  of interest  on, and  principal amounts  of, their respective
bonds. The  difficulties  have in  certain  instances caused  the  State  (under
so-called   "moral  obligation"  provisions   which  are  non-binding  statutory
provisions for State  appropriations to  maintain various  debt service  reserve
funds)  to appropriate funds on behalf of the Agencies. Moreover, it is expected
that the  problems  faced by  these  Agencies  will continue  and  will  require
increasing  amounts of State assistance in future years. Failure of the State to
appropriate necessary amounts or to take  other action to permit those  Agencies
having  financial  difficulties  to meet  their  obligations could  result  in a
default by one or more of the Agencies. Such default, if it were to occur, would
be likely to have  a significant adverse effect  on investor confidence in,  and
therefore  the  market  price of,  obligations  of the  defaulting  Agencies. In
addition, any default in payment on  any general obligation of any Agency  whose
bonds contain a moral obligation provision could constitute a failure of certain
conditions that must be satisfied in connection
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
with  Federal guarantees of  City and MAC obligations  and could thus jeopardize
the City's long-term financing plans.
 
    As of  September 30,  1993,  the State  reported  that there  were  eighteen
Agencies  that each had outstanding debt of $100 million or more. These eighteen
Agencies had  an  aggregate of  $63.5  billion of  outstanding  debt,  including
refunding  bonds, of which $7.7  billion was moral obligation  debt of the State
and $19.3 billion  was financed under  lease-purchase or contractual  obligation
financing arrangements.
 
    (4) STATE LITIGATION: The State is a defendant in numerous legal proceedings
pertaining  to  matters incidental  to the  performance of  routine governmental
operations. Such litigation  includes, but  is not limited  to, claims  asserted
against  the State  arising from alleged  torts, alleged  breaches of contracts,
condemnation proceedings and other alleged violations of State and Federal laws.
Included in the State's outstanding litigation are a number of cases challenging
the constitutionality  or  the  adequacy  and  effectiveness  of  a  variety  of
significant  social  welfare  programs primarily  involving  the  State's mental
hygiene programs. Adverse judgments in  these matters generally could result  in
injunctive  relief coupled with prospective changes  in patient care which could
require substantial increased financing of the litigated programs in the future.
 
    The State  is  also engaged  in  a  variety of  claims  wherein  significant
monetary  damages are sought. Actions commenced  by several Indian nations claim
that significant amounts of land were unconstitutionally taken from the  Indians
in  violation  of  various treaties  and  agreements during  the  eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries. The claimants seek  recovery of approximately six  million
acres of land as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
 
    The  U.S. Supreme Court on March 30,  1993, referred to a Special Master for
determination of damages an action by  the State of Delaware to recover  certain
unclaimed  dividends,  interest  and  other  distributions  made  by  issuers of
securities held by New  York based-brokers incorporated  in Delaware. (STATE  OF
DELAWARE  V. STATE  OF NEW  YORK.) The State  had taken  such unclaimed property
under its ABANDONED  PROPERTY LAW.  New York and  Delaware have  entered into  a
settlement  agreement which provides for a payment of $35 million in fiscal year
1993-94 and thereafter five $33 million annual payments. Claims of other  states
and  the District of Columbia  have not been settled  and the State expects that
additional payments,  which may  be significant,  may be  required with  respect
thereto during fiscal year 1994 and thereafter.
 
    In  SCHULZ V.  STATE OF  NEW YORK, commenced  May 24,  1993 ("SCHULZ 1993"),
petitioners have challenged the constitutionality of mass transportation bonding
programs  of  the  New  York  State  Thruway  Authority  and  the   Metropolitan
Transportation  Authority. On  May 24, 1993,  the Supreme  Court, Albany County,
temporarily enjoined  the State  from implementing  those bonding  programs.  In
previous  actions  Mr.  Schulz and  others  have challenged  on  similar grounds
bonding programs for the  New York State Urban  Development Corporation and  the
New  York  Local Government  Assistance Corporation.  While  there have  been no
decisions on the merits in  such previous actions, by  an opinion dated May  11,
1993,  the New York Court of Appeals held in a proceeding commenced on April 29,
1991 in the Supreme  Court, Albany County  (SCHULZ V. STATE  OF NEW YORK),  that
petitioners  had standing as  voters under the State  Constitution to bring such
action.
 
    Petitioners in SCHULZ 1993 have asserted  that issuance of bonds by the  two
Authorities  is subject to  approval by statewide  referendum. By decision dated
October 21, 1993, the Appellate  Division, Third Department, affirmed the  order
of  the Supreme  Court, Albany County,  granting the State's  motion for summary
judgment, dismissing the complaint and vacating the temporary restraining order.
In December 1993, the New York Court of Appeals indicated that it would hear the
plaintiffs' appeal of the Appellate Division's decision in
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
SCHULZ 1993. At this time there can be no forecast of the likelihood of  success
on  the merits by the petitioners,  but a decision upholding this constitutional
challenge  could  restrict  and  limit  the   ability  of  the  State  and   its
instrumentalities to borrow funds in the future.
 
    Adverse  developments in the foregoing  proceedings or new proceedings could
adversely affect the financial condition of the State in the future.
 
    (5) OTHER MUNICIPALITIES: Certain  localities in addition  to New York  City
could   have  financial  problems  leading  to  requests  for  additional  State
assistance. The potential impact on the  State of such actions by localities  is
not  included in projections  of State receipts and  expenditures in the State's
1993-94 and 1994-95 fiscal years.
 
    Fiscal difficulties experienced by the City of Yonkers ("Yonkers")  resulted
in  the creation  of the Financial  Control Board  for the City  of Yonkers (the
"Yonkers Board")  by  the State  in  1984. The  Yonkers  Board is  charged  with
oversight of the fiscal affairs of Yonkers. Future actions taken by the Governor
or  the State Legislature to assist Yonkers  could result in allocation of State
resources in amounts that cannot yet be determined.
 
    Municipalities and school districts  have engaged in substantial  short-term
and  long-term borrowings. In 1991, the  total indebtedness of all localities in
the State was approximately  $31.6 billion, of which  $16.8 billion was debt  of
New  York City  (excluding $6.7  billion in  MAC debt).  State law  requires the
Comptroller to review and make  recommendations concerning the budgets of  those
local government units other than New York City authorized by State law to issue
debt  to  finance deficits  during  the period  that  such deficit  financing is
outstanding. Fifteen localities had outstanding indebtedness for state financing
at the close of their  fiscal year ending in 1991.  In 1992, an unusually  large
number of local government units requested authorization for deficit financings.
According to the Comptroller, ten local government units have been authorized to
issue deficit financing in the aggregate amount of $131.1 million.
 
    Certain  proposed Federal  expenditure reductions  could reduce,  or in some
cases eliminate, Federal funding  of some local  programs and accordingly  might
impose substantial increased expenditure requirements on affected localities. If
the State, New York City or any of the Agencies were to suffer serious financial
difficulties  jeopardizing their respective access to the public credit markets,
the marketability of  notes and  bonds issued  by localities  within the  State,
including  notes or  bonds in  the New  York Insured  Trust, could  be adversely
affected. Localities also face anticipated and potential problems resulting from
certain pending litigation, judicial decisions, and long-range economic  trends.
The  longer-range potential  problems of declining  urban population, increasing
expenditures, and other  economic trends could  adversely affect localities  and
require increasing State assistance in the future.
 
    (6)  OTHER ISSUERS OF NEW YORK MUNICIPAL  OBLIGATIONS. There are a number of
other 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
obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the State.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
NEW YORK 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,  state and local  taxes, using  published 1995 marginal
Federal tax rates and marginal state and local 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  two state  or local  brackets fall  within a  federal
bracket, the higher state or local bracket is combined with the federal bracket.
The  combined local, state and Federal tax  brackets shown reflect the fact that
state and local 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.
 
I.  COMBINED FEDERAL AND NEW YORK STATE INCOME TAXES
 
 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 $     0-100.0     21.5    %     6.37    6.69    7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96    8.28    8.60
                 100.0-114.7     22.5          6.45    6.77    7.10    7.42    7.74    8.06    8.39    8.71
    39.0- 94.3       0-100.0     33.5          7.52    7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77   10.15
                 100.0-114.7     34.5          7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92   10.31
                 114.7-150.0     35.0          7.69    8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62   10.00   10.38
                 150.0-172.1     34.0          7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23
    94.3-143.6       0-100.0     36.0          7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16   10.55
                 100.0-114.7     37.0          7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71
                 114.7-150.0     38.0          8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89
                 150.0-172.1     37.0          7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71
                 172.1-294.6     39.5          8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16
   143.6-256.5   114.7-150.0     42.5          8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74
                 150.0-172.1     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     45.5    3     9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39
</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 $     0-100.0     21.5    %     6.37    6.69    7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96    8.28    8.60
                 100.0-114.7     22.0          6.41    6.73    7.05    7.37    7.69    8.01    8.33    8.65
    23.4- 56.6       0-100.0     33.5          7.52    7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77   10.15
                 100.0-114.7     34.0          7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23
    56.6-118.0       0-100.0     36.0          7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16   10.55
                 100.0-114.7     36.5          7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63
                 114.7-150.0     38.0          8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89
                 150.0-237.2     37.5          8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80
   118.0-256.5   114.7-150.0     43.0          8.77    9.21    9.65   10.09   10.53   10.96   11.40   11.84
                 150.0-237.2     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     45.5    3     9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39
</TABLE>
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
II. COMBINED FEDERAL, NEW YORK STATE AND NEW YORK CITY INCOME TAXES
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL      COMBINED
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED       STATE,
    TAXABLE        GROSS         LOCAL                     TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME      AND 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 $     0-100.0     25.0    %     6.67    7.00    7.33    7.67    8.00    8.33    8.67    9.00
                 100.0-114.7     26.0          6.76    7.09    7.43    7.77    8.11    8.45    8.78    9.12
    39.0- 94.3       0-100.0     36.5          7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63
                 100.0-114.7     37.5          8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80
                 114.7-150.0     38.0          8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89
                 150.0-172.1     37.5          8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80
    94.3-143.6       0-100.0     39.5          8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16
                 100.0-114.7     40.0          8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83   11.25
                 114.7-150.0     41.0          8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02   11.44
                 150.0-172.1     40.0          8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83   11.25
                 172.1-294.6     42.5          8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74
   143.6-256.5   114.7-150.0     45.5          9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39
                 150.0-172.1     44.5          9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16
                 172.1-294.6     47.0          9.43    9.91   10.38   10.85   11.32   11.79   12.26   12.74
                  Over 294.6     44.5    2     9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6     50.5         10.10   10.61   11.11   11.62   12.12   12.63   13.13   13.64
                  Over 294.6     48.0    3     9.62   10.10   10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02   12.50   12.98
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL      COMBINED
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED       STATE,
    TAXABLE        GROSS         LOCAL                     TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME      AND 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 $     0-100.0     25.0    %     6.67    7.00    7.33    7.67    8.00    8.33    8.67    9.00
                 100.0-114.7     25.5          6.71    7.05    7.38    7.72    8.05    8.39    8.72    9.06
    23.4- 56.6       0-100.0     36.5          7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63
                 100.0-114.7     37.0          7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71
    56.6-118.0       0-100.0     39.5          8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16
                 100.0-114.7     39.5          8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16
                 114.7-150.0     41.0          8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02   11.44
                 150.0-237.2     40.5          8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92   11.34
   118.0-256.5   114.7-150.0     45.5          9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39
                 150.0-237.2     45.5          9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39
                  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     48.0    3     9.62   10.10   10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02   12.50   12.98
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>         <C>
<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 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 the New York State supplemental income
tax based upon a taxpayer's New York State taxable income and New York State adjusted gross income. This supplemental tax results
in an increased marginal state  income tax rate to the  extent a taxpayer's New York  State adjusted gross income ranges  between
$100,000  and $150,000. The table  does not, however, reflect  the amendments to the  New York State income  tax law that imposes
limitations on the deductibility of itemized deductions. The application of the New York State limitation on itemized  deductions
may result in a higher combined Federal, State and local tax rate than indicated in the table. The table assumes for this purpose
that a taxpayer's New York State adjusted income equals his Federal adjusted gross income.
      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>
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
    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.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
MAY 9, 1995
NEW YORK INSURED TRUST 235
(SERIES 801)
    
 
   
<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>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   290,000      Dormitory Authority of the State of New York,       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       287,100
                   University of Rochester, Strong Memorial
                   Hospital Revenue Bonds, Series 1994, 5.90%
                   Due 7/1/17.
    600,000      New York Local Government Assistance                2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             598,500
                   Corporation, Series 1995A Bonds, 6.00% Due
                   4/1/24.
    600,000      New York State Medical Care Facilities Finance      2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             618,162
                   Agency, Mental Health Services Facilities
                   Improvement Revenue Bonds, 1994 Series E,
                   6.375% Due 8/15/14. (General Obligation
                   Bonds.)
    600,000      New York State Thruway Authority, General           2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             597,000
                   Revenue Bonds, Series C, 6.00% Due 1/1/25.
    600,000      New York State Urban Development Corporation,       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             549,642
                   Correctional Capital Facilities Revenue
                   Bonds, Series 4, 5.375% Due 1/1/23. (Original
                   issue discount bonds delivered on or about
                   December 29, 1993 at a price of 94.25% of
                   principal amount.)
    110,000      The City of New York (New York), General         No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa              27,221
                   Obligation Bonds, Fiscal 1993 Series E, 0.00%
                   Due 5/15/19. (Original issue discount bonds
                   delivered on or about May 27, 1993 at a price
                   of 19.479% of principal amount.)
    600,000      Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New        2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             597,000
                   York), Transit Facilities Revenue Bonds,
                   Series O, 6.00% Due 7/1/24. (Original issue
                   discount bonds delivered on or about July 12,
                   1994 at a price of 94.875% of principal
                   amount.)
    600,000      Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (New      No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             525,636
                   York), General Purpose Revenue Bonds, Series
                   1994A, 4.75% Due 1/1/14.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 4,000,000                                                                                                 $     3,800,261
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 43.
 
                                       42
<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.
 
                                       43
<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 801:
    
 
   
       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  801
     (comprising Connecticut  Traditional  Trust  273,  Short  Intermediate
     Insured  Trust 41, Arizona Insured Trust 39 and New York Insured Trust
     235),  as  of  May  9,  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 801
     as of May 9,  1995, in conformity  with generally accepted  accounting
     principles.
    
 
                                                        ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
     Chicago, Illinois,
     May 9, 1995.
    
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
                            Statements of Condition
   
                    NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 801
    
   
(Connecticut Traditional Trust 273, Short Intermediate Insured Trust 41, Arizona
                Insured Trust 39 and New York Insured Trust 235)
    
   
                               AS OF MAY 9, 1995
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   SHORT
                                            CONNECTICUT        INTERMEDIATE           ARIZONA            NEW YORK
                                            TRADITIONAL           INSURED             INSURED             INSURED
    TRUST PROPERTY                           TRUST 273           TRUST 41            TRUST 39            TRUST 235
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-
 Exempt Bonds, backed by an irrevocable
 letter of credit(1)(2).................  $     3,388,643     $     8,862,023     $     3,303,717     $     3,800,261
Accrued interest to May 9, 1995 on
  underlying Bonds(1)...................           46,364             113,646              54,136              66,009
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,435,007     $     8,975,669     $     3,357,853     $     3,866,270
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
   LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITY:
    Accrued interest to May 9, 1995 on
      underlying Bonds(3)...............  $        46,364     $       113,646     $        54,136     $        66,009
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided
      interest outstanding (Connecticut
      Traditional Trust 273--35,000;
      Short Intermediate Insured Trust
      41 --90,000; Arizona Insured Trust
      39--35,000; New York Insured Trust
      235--40,000)
      Cost to investors(4)..............  $     3,563,226     $     9,136,125     $     3,473,924     $     3,996,050
        Less: Gross underwriting
          commission(5).................         (174,583)           (274,102)           (170,207)           (195,789)
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Net amount applicable to
      investors.........................  $     3,388,643     $     8,862,023     $     3,303,717     $     3,800,261
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,435,007     $     8,975,669     $     3,357,853     $     3,866,270
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
<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>
    
 
                                       45
<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 MBIA Insurance 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
 
                                      A-10
<PAGE>
in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
Commonwealth  of the Northern Mariana Islands,  the Virgin Islands of the United
States and the Territory  of Guam. The  Insurer has one  European branch in  the
Republic of France.
 
    As  of December  31, 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 December 31,  1994, the Insurer had  admitted assets of $3.4
billion (audited),  total  liabilities  of $2.3  billion  (audited),  and  total
capital  and surplus  of $1.1  billion (audited)  determined in  accordance with
statutory accounting practices prescribed  or permitted by insurance  regulatory
authorities.  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>
 
                                      A-11
<PAGE>
    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.
 
    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
 
                                      A-12
<PAGE>
Company  ("CGIC"), Financial  Security Assurance,  Inc. ("FSA"),  Municipal Bond
Insurance Association (the "Association"),  MBIA Insurance Corporation  ("MBIA")
or Connie Lee Insurance Company ("ConnieLee"). The Sponsor to date has purchased
and  presently intends  to purchase  insurance for  Bonds in  Traditional Trusts
exclusively from MBIA (see the  preceding disclosure regarding MBIA). There  can
be  no assurance  that any insurer  listed therein  will be able  to satisfy its
commitments in the  event claims  are made in  the future.  However, Standard  &
Poor's  Corporation has rated  the claims-paying ability  of each insurer "AAA,"
and Moody's Investors Service has rated all bonds insured by each such  insurer,
except  ConnieLee, "Aaa." Moody's Investor's Service  gives no ratings for bonds
insured by ConnieLee.
 
    Because any such insurance  will be effective so  long as the insured  Bonds
are  outstanding, such insurance  will be taken into  account in determining the
market value  of  such Bonds  and  therefore  some value  attributable  to  such
insurance  will be included in the value of the Units of the Trust that includes
such Bonds. The insurance does not,  however, guarantee the market value of  the
Bonds or of the Units.
 
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 or secondary offering period or units of any other series of  Nuveen
Tax-Exempt  Unit Trusts in the primary or secondary offering period by executing
and delivering a letter of intent to the Sponsor, which letter of intent must be
in a  form acceptable  to  the Sponsor  and shall  have  a maximum  duration  of
thirteen months, will be eligible to receive a reduced sales charge according to
the  following tables  based on  the amount  of intended  aggregate purchases as
expressed in the  letter of  intent. Due  to administrative  limitations and  in
order to permit adequate tracking, the only secondary market purchases that will
be  permitted to be applied  toward the intended specified  amount and that will
receive the corresponding reduced sales charge are those Units that are acquired
through or from the  Sponsor. By establishing a  letter of intent, a  Unitholder
agrees  that the first purchase of Units  following the execution of such letter
of intent will  be at least  5% of the  total amount of  the intended  aggregate
purchases  expressed in such Unitholder's letter of intent. Further, through the
establishment of  the  letter  of  intent, such  Unitholder  agrees  that  units
representing  5% of the total  amount of the intended  purchases will be held in
escrow by United States  Trust Company of New  York pending completion of  these
purchases.    All   distributions   on   units    held   in   escrow   will   be
 
                                      A-13
<PAGE>
credited  to  such  Unitholder's  account.  If  total  purchases  prior  to  the
expiration  of the letter of intent period  equal or exceed the amount specified
in a Unitholder's letter of intent, the units held in escrow will be transferred
to such Unitholder's account.  If the total purchases  are less than the  amount
specified,  the Unitholder involved must pay the  Sponsor an amount equal to the
difference between the amounts  paid for these purchases  and the amounts  which
would  have  been paid  if the  higher sales  charge had  been applied.  If such
Unitholder does  not pay  the additional  amount within  20 days  after  written
request  by  the  Sponsor  or the  Unitholder's  securities  representative, the
Sponsor will  instruct  the Trustee  to  redeem  an appropriate  number  of  the
escrowed units to meet the required payment. By establishing a letter of intent,
a  Unitholder irrevocably appoints the Sponsor  as attorney to give instructions
to redeem any or  all of such  Unitholder's escrowed units,  with full power  of
substitution in the premises. A Unitholder or his securities representative must
notify  the Sponsor whenever such  Unitholder makes a purchase  of Units that he
wishes to  be counted  towards the  intended amount.  Sales charges  during  the
primary offering period are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         NATIONAL AND STATE      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
 
                                      A-14
<PAGE>
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
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
 
                                      A-15
<PAGE>
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.
 
    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 (1)  investors who purchase  Units through registered  investment
advisers, certified financial planners and registered broker-dealers who in each
case  either charge periodic fees for financial planning, investment advisory or
asset management  services, or  provide  such services  in connection  with  the
establishment  of an  investment account  for which  a comprehensive  "wrap fee"
charge is imposed, (2)  bank trust departments investing  funds over which  they
exercise  exclusive discretionary  investment authority and  that are  held in a
fiduciary, agency, custodial  or similar  capacity, (3)  any person  who for  at
least  90 days, has been an officer, director  or bona fide employee of any firm
offering Units  for sale  to investors  or their  immediate family  members  (as
defined  above) and  (4) officers and  directors of bank  holding companies that
make Units  available  directly  or through  subsidiaries  or  bank  affiliates.
Notwithstanding  anything to  the contrary  in this  Prospectus, such investors,
bank trust departments,  firm employees  and bank holding  company officers  and
directors  who purchase Units through this program will not receive sales charge
reductions for quantity purchases.
 
    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.
 
                                      A-16
<PAGE>
    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
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.")
 
                                      A-17
<PAGE>
    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  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
 
                                      A-18
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                      A-19
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                      A-20
<PAGE>
        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 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.
 
                                      A-21
<PAGE>
    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 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"
 
                                      A-22
<PAGE>
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 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.
 
                                      A-23
<PAGE>
    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 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
 
                                      A-24
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                      A-25
<PAGE>
Standard &  Poor's,  unrated bonds  which,  in  the opinion  of  the  investment
adviser,  have credit  characteristics equivalent to  bonds rated Baa  or BBB or
better, and  certain temporary  investments, including  securities the  interest
income from which may be subject to Federal income tax.
 
TAX-FREE RESERVES
 
    Tax-Free  Reserves is a  "money market" fund that  includes in its portfolio
only obligations  maturing  within  one  year  from  the  date  of  acquisition,
maintains an average maturity of all investments of 120 days or less, values its
portfolio at amortized cost and seeks to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per
share. It provides checkwriting and expedited wire redemption privileges for its
shareholders.   Tax-Free  Reserves  has  the  objective  of  providing,  through
investment in  a professionally  managed portfolio  of high  quality  short-term
municipal  obligations, as high  a level of current  interest income exempt from
Federal income  tax  as is  consistent  with  preservation of  capital  and  the
maintenance  of  liquidity.  Tax-Free  Reserves  may  include  in  its portfolio
municipal obligations rated Aaa, Aa, MIG-1, VMIG-1 or Prime-1 by Moody's or AAA,
AA, SP-1 or A-1 by Standard & Poor's, unrated municipal obligations that, in the
opinion of the  investment adviser,  have credit  characteristics equivalent  to
obligations   rated  as  above,  tax-exempt   obligations  backed  by  the  U.S.
Government, and temporary investments that may be subject to Federal income tax.
 
THE CALIFORNIA FUND
 
    The California Fund has  the objective of  providing, through investment  in
professionally managed portfolios of California municipal obligations, as high a
level  of current interest income exempt from both Federal and California income
taxes as is consistent with the investment policies of each of the portfolios of
the California Fund  and with  preservation of  capital. Each  portfolio of  the
California  Fund may include  temporary investments that may  be subject to tax.
California Unitholders may reinvest in one of three portfolios of the California
Fund: The Nuveen California Tax-Free  Value Fund, the Nuveen California  Insured
Tax-Free Value Fund and the Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund.
 
    The  Nuveen California  Tax-Free Value  Fund invests  primarily in long-term
investment grade  California tax-exempt  bonds (I.E.,  bonds rated  in the  four
highest  categories by Moody's  or Standard &  Poor's or, if  unrated, that have
equivalent credit characteristics). The Nuveen California Insured Tax-Free Value
Fund invests  primarily in  the same  type of  investments as  the 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
 
                                      A-26
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                      A-27
<PAGE>
bonds rated  "baa" or  "BBB" or  better,  limited to  no more  than 20%  of  the
Multistate Trust's assets, and certain temporary investments that may be subject
to Federal and state income tax.
 
    Each  person who purchases Units of a  Trust may become a participant in the
Accumulation Plan and elect  to have his  or her distributions  on Units of  the
Trust  invested directly in shares of one of the Accumulation Funds. Reinvesting
Unitholders  may  select  any  interest  distribution  plan.  Thereafter,   each
distribution  of  interest  income  or  principal  on  the  participant's  Units
(principal only in  the case of  a Unitholder  who has chosen  to reinvest  only
principal  distributions) will, on the applicable distribution date, or the next
day on which the New  York Stock Exchange is  normally open ("business day")  if
the  distribution  date is  not  a business  day,  automatically be  received by
Shareholder Services, Inc., transfer agent  for each of the Accumulation  Funds,
on  behalf of such participant  and applied on that  date to purchase shares (or
fractions thereof)  of  the Accumulation  Fund  chosen  at net  asset  value  as
computed  as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each such date. All distributions will
be reinvested  in the  Accumulation Fund  chosen  and no  part thereof  will  be
retained  in a separate  account. These purchases  will be made  without a sales
charge.
 
    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
 
                                      A-28
<PAGE>
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.
 
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:
 
                                      A-29
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         DISCOUNT PER UNIT
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
                                 NATIONAL    LONG INTER-                  SHORT INTER-
                                AND STATE      MEDIATE     INTERMEDIATE      MEDIATE     SHORT TERM
NUMBER OF UNITS*                  TRUSTS       TRUSTS         TRUSTS         TRUSTS        TRUSTS
- ------------------------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -----------
Less than 500.................    $3.20         $2.90          $2.70          $2.00         $1.50
500 but less than 1,000.......     3.20         2.90           2.70           2.00          1.50
1,000 but less than 2,500.....     3.20         2.70           2.50           1.80          1.30
2,500 but less than 5,000.....     3.20         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
5,000 but less than 10,000....     2.50         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
10,000 but less than 25,000...     2.00         2.00           2.00           1.30           .80
25,000 but less than 50,000...     1.75         1.75           1.75           1.30           .60
50,000 or more................     1.75         1.50           1.50           1.00           .60
</TABLE>
 
*Breakpoint  sales charges and related dealer concessions are computed both on a
 dollar basis and  on the  basis of  the number  of Units  purchased, using  the
 equivalent  of 500 Units to  $50,000, 2,500 Units to  $250,000 etc. and will be
 applied on that basis which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The Sponsor currently intends  to maintain a secondary  market for Units  of
each  Trust. See  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
 
                                      A-30
<PAGE>
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 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.
 
                                      A-31
<PAGE>
    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 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.
 
                                      A-32
<PAGE>
    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.
 
    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
 
                                      A-33
<PAGE>
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.
 
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
 
                                      A-34
<PAGE>
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  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.
 
                                      A-35
<PAGE>
    If the Sponsor fails to undertake any of its duties under the Indenture, and
no  express  provision is  made for  action by  the Trustee  in such  event, the
Trustee may, in addition to its other  powers under the Indenture (1) appoint  a
successor sponsor or (2) terminate the Indenture and liquidate the Trusts.
 
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 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
 
                                      A-36
<PAGE>
Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen New Jersey Premium Income Municipal Fund
2, Nuveen  Washington Premium  Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen  Michigan  Premium
Income  Municipal Fund 2,  Nuveen Georgia Premium  Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen
Missouri Premium  Income  Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen  Connecticut  Premium  Income
Municipal  Fund, Nuveen North Carolina Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen New
Jersey Premium Income Municipal Fund 3, Nuveen Florida Premium Income  Municipal
Fund,  Nuveen New York Premium Income  Municipal Fund, Nuveen California Premium
Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen  Pennsylvania Premium  Income Municipal  Fund  3,
Nuveen  Maryland  Income  Municipal  Fund  2,  Nuveen  Virginia  Premium  Income
Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen  Ohio Premium Income Municipal  Fund 2, Nuveen  Insured
Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen California Premium Income Municipal Fund
2,  all registered closed-end management  investment companies. These registered
open-end and closed-end investment companies currently have approximately  $32.8
billion  in  tax-exempt  securities  under  management.  Nationwide,  more  than
1,000,000 individual investors  have purchased  Nuveen's tax  exempt trusts  and
funds.  The  present  corporation  was  organized  in  1967  as  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of Nuveen Corporation,  successor to the original  John Nuveen &  Co.
founded in 1898 as a sole proprietorship and incorporated in 1953. In 1974, John
Nuveen  &  Co. Incorporated  became a  wholly-owned subsidiary  of The  St. Paul
Companies, Inc., a financial  services management company  located in St.  Paul,
Minnesota.  On May 19, 1992, common shares comprising a minority interest in The
John Nuveen Company ("JNC"),  a newly organized corporation  which holds all  of
the  shares of  Nuveen, were  sold to  the general  public in  an initial public
offering. St. Paul retains a controlling interest in JNC with over 70% of  JNC's
shares.  The  Sponsor is  a  member of  the  National Association  of Securities
Dealers, Inc.  and the  Securities Industry  Association and  has its  principal
offices located in Chicago (333 W. Wacker Drive) and New York (Swiss Bank Tower,
10 East 50th Street). It maintains 14 regional offices.
 
    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.
 
                                      A-37
<PAGE>
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 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>
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                                      A-42
<PAGE>
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                                      A-43
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-44
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<C>                <S>        <C>
           NUVEEN             Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
                           PROSPECTUS
                           200,000 Units
                           Connecticut Traditional
                           Trust 273
                           Short Intermediate Insured
                           Trust 41
                           Arizona Insured Trust 39
                           New York Insured Trust 235
</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.
 
   
   801
    

<PAGE>
                  *********************************************
                  *    PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED  5/10/95  *
                  *********************************************
                          NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    100,000 UNITS                                             SERIES 807
                                                     (A Unit Investment Trust)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    The attached final Prospectus for a prior Series is hereby used as a
preliminary Prospectus for the above-stated Series.  The narrative 
information and structure of the attached final Prospectus will be 
substantially the same as that of the final Prospectus for this Series.  
Although the attached Prospectus includes trusts as indicated 
therein, the specific trusts included in this Series when deposited may
differ from such trusts.  Information with respect to the actual trusts to
be included, pricing, the number of Units, dates and summary information
regarding the characteristics of securities to be deposited in this Series
is not now available and will be different since each Series has a unique
Portfolio.  Accordingly the information contained herein with regard to the
previous Series should be considered as being included for informational 
purposes only.  Ratings of the securities in this Series are expected to be
comparable to those of the securities deposited in the previous Series.
However, the Estimated Current Return for this Series will depend on the 
interest rates and offering prices of the securities in this Series and may
vary materially from that of the previous Series.

  **************************************************************************
  * A registration statement relating to the units of this Series has been *
  * filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet      *
  * become effective.  Information contained herein is subject to comple-  *
  * tion or amendment.  Such Units may not be sold nor may offers to buy   *
  * be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes       *
  * effective.  This Prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell      *
  * or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale     *
  * of the Units in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale    *
  * would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the     *
  * securities laws of any such state.                                     *
  **************************************************************************



<PAGE>

Statement of differences between electronic filing and printed document.
   Pursuant to Rule 499(c) (7) under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule
0-11 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>

                 NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 807

                             Cross-Reference Sheet

                     Pursuant to Rule 404(c) of Regulation C
                        under the Securities Act of 1933

               (Form N-8B-2 Items Required by Instruction 1 as
                           to Prospectus on Form S-6)

FORM N-8B-2                                      FORM S-6
ITEM NUMBER                                      HEADING IN PROSPECTUS

    I.   ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

1.  (a)  Name of trust                    )   Prospectus Cover Page
    (b)  Title of securities issued       )

2.  Name and address of Depositor         )23 Information About the Sponsor

3.  Name and address of Trustee           )22 Information About the Trustee

4.  Name and address of principal         )23 Information About the Sponsor
    Underwriter                           )

5.  Organization of trust                 ) 1 What Is The Nuveen Tax-Exempt
                                          )   Unit Trust?

6.  Execution and termination of          ) 1 What Is The Nuveen Tax-Exempt
    Trust Agreement                       )   Unit Trust?
                                          )22 Information About the Trustee
                                          )24 Other Information

7.  Changes of Name                                    *

8.  Fiscal Year

9.  Litigation

    II.  GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND SECURITIES OF THE TRUST

10. General Information regarding         ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
    trust's securities                    ) 5 Why and How are the Bonds
                                              Insured?
                                           13 When Are Distributions
                                              Made to Unitholders?
                                          )18 Ownership and Transfer of Units
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                              Without Charge
                                          )21 How Bonds May Be Removed From
                                          )   The Trusts
                                          )22 Information About the Trustee
                                          )23 Information About the Sponsor
                                          )24 Other Information

                                          )11 What Is The Tax Status of
                                          )   Unitholders?

11. Type of securities comprising         ) 1 What Is The Nuveen Tax-Exempt
    units                                 )   Unit Trust?
                                          ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          ) 4 Composition of Trusts
                                          ) 2 What Are The Objectives Of
                                          )   The Trusts?
                                            5 Why and How are the Bonds
                                              Insured?

12. Certain information regarding         )   *
    periodic payment certificates         )

13. (a)Load, fees, expenses, etc.         )ii Essential Information Regarding
                                          )   the Trusts on Date of Deposit of
                                                Bonds
                                          ) 6 How Is The Public Offering Price
                                          )   Determined?
                                          ) 7 Market For Units
                                          ) 8 What Is Accrued Interest?
                                          ) 9 What Is The Estimated Current
                                          )   Return?
                                          )10 How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                          )    Determined At Date of Deposit?
                                          )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?
                                          ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          )13 When Are Distributions Made
                                          )   to Certificateholders?
                                          )15 How Detailed Are Reports To
                                                Certificateholders?


<PAGE>


    (b)Certain information regarding      )   *
       periodic payment certificates      )


    (c)Certain percentages                ) 6 How Is the Public Offering Price
                                          )   Determined?
                                          ) 7 Market For Units
                                          ) 9 What Is The Estimated Current
                                          )   Return?
                                          )10 How Was The Price of the Bonds
                                          )   Determined At Date of Deposit?
                                          ) 8 What is Accrued Interest?

    (d)Certain other fees, etc.           )10 How Was The Price Of The Bonds
       payable by holders                 )   Determined At Date of Deposit?
                                          )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?
                                          )18 Ownership and Transfer of Units

    (e)Certain profits receivable         ) 4 Composition of Trusts
       by depositor, principal under-     )
       writer, trustee or affiliated      )20 How Units May Be Purchased By
       persons                            )   The Sponsor

    (f)Ratio of annual charges
       to income                                *

14. Issuance of trust's securities        ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          )13 When Are Distributions Made
                                          )   To Unitholders?
                                          )18 Ownership and Transfer of Units
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                          )   Without Charge

15. Receipt and handling of payments      )   *
    from purchasers                       )

16. Acquisition and Disposition of        ) 1 What Is The Nuveen Tax-Exempt
    Underlying Securities                 )   Unit Trust?
                                          ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          ) 4 Composition of Trusts
                                          ) 5 Why and How are the Bonds
                                              Insured?
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                              Without Charge
                                          )21 How Bonds May Be Removed From
                                          )   The Trusts
                                          )24 Other Information

17. Withdrawal or redemption              ) 7 Market For Units
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                          )   Without Charge
                                          )20 How Units May Be Purchased By
                                          )   The Sponsor

18. (a)Receipt and disposition of income  ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          )13 When Are  Distributions
                                              Made To Unitholders?
                                          )15 How Detailed Are Reports To
                                          )   Unitholders?

    (b)Reinvestment of distributions      )14 Accumulation Plan

    (c)Reserves or special funds          ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          )13 When Are Distributions
                                          )   Made To Certificateholders?

    (d)Schedule of distributions          )   *

19. Records, accounts and reports         )13 When Are Distributions Made
                                          )   To Certificateholders?
                                          )15 How Detailed Are Reports To
                                          )   Certificateholders?

20. Certain miscellaneous provisions of   )22 Information About the Trustee
    Trust Agreement                       )23 Information About the Sponsor
                                          )24 Other Information


<PAGE>


21. Loans to security holders             )   *

22. Limitations on liability              ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          ) 4 Composition of Trusts
                                          )22 Information About The Trustee

23. Bond arrangements                     )   *

24. Other material provisions of Trust    )   *
    Agreement.                            )

    III. ORGANIZATION, PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATED PERSONS OF DEPOSITOR

25. Organization of Depositor             )23 Information About the Sponsor

26. Fees received by Depositor            )   *

27. Business of Depositor                 )23 Information About the Sponsor

28. Certain information as to officials   )  *
    and affiliated persons of Depositor   )

29. Voting Securities of Depositor        )23 Information About the Sponsor

30. Persons controlling Depositor         )
                                          )
31. Payments by Depositor for certain     )
    services rendered to trust            )
                                          )   *
32. Payments by Depositor for certain     )
    other services rendered to trust      )
                                          )
33. Remuneration of employees of Depositor)
    for certain services rendered to trust)
                                          )
34. Remuneration of other persons for     )
    certain services rendered to trust    )

<PAGE>


    IV.  DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

35. Distribution of trust's securities by )
    states                                )
                                          )   *
36. Suspension of sales of trust's        )
    securities                            )
                                          )
37. Revocation of authority to distribute )

38. (a)Method of distribution             )
                                          )
    (b)Underwriting agreements            )17 How Units of The Trusts Are
                                          )   Distributed To The Public
    (c)Selling agreements                 )

39. (a)Organization of principal          )
         underwriter                      )
                                          )23 Information About The Sponsor
    (b)NASD membership of principal       )
         underwriter                      )

40. Certain fees received by principal    )   *
    underwriter


41. (a)Business of principal underwriter  )
                                          )
    (b)Branch offices of principal under- )    *
       writer                             )
                                          )
    (c)Salesmen of principal underwriter  )

42. Ownership of trust's securities by    )   *
    certain persons                       )
                                          )
43. Certain brokerage commissions received)   *
    by principal underwriter              )

44. (a)Method of valuation                )ii Essential Information Regarding
                                          )   The Trusts On Date Of Deposit Of
                                          )   Bonds
                                          ) 6 How Is The Public Offering Price
                                          )   Determined?
                                          )10 How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                          )   Determined At Date of Deposit?
                                          )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?


    (b)Schedule as to offering price      )   *

    (c)Variation in offering price to     ) 6 How Is the Public Offering Price
       certain persons                    )   Determined?
                                          ) 8 What Is Accrued Interest?
                                          )10 How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                          )   Determined At Date of Deposit?

<PAGE>


45. Suspension of redemption rights       )   *

46. (a)Redemption valuation               )16 Unit Value and Evaluation
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                          )   Without Charge
                                          )20 How Units May Be Purchased By
                                          )   The Sponsor

    (b)Schedule as to redemption price    )   *

47. Maintenance of position in underlying ) 5 How Is the Public Offering Price
    securities                            )   Determined?
                                          )20 How Units May Be Purchased By
                                          )   The Sponsor

    V.   INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN

48. Organization and regulation of Trustee)21 Information About The Trustee

49. Fees and expenses of Trustee          )ii Essential Information Regarding
                                          )   The Trusts On Date of Deposit Of
                                          )   Bonds
                                          )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?

50. Trustee's lien                        )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?
                                          )13 When Are Distributions Made
                                          )   To Unitholders?

    VI.  INFORMATION CONCERNING INSURANCE OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

51. Insurance of holders of trust's       )   *
    securities                            )

                        VII.  POLICY OF REGISTRANT

52. (a)Provisions of trust agreement with )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
       respect to selection or elimination)   Expenses?
       of underlying securities           )19 How Units May Be Redeemed With-
                                          )   out Charge
                                          )21 How Bonds May Be Removed From
                                          )   The Trusts

    (b)Transactions involving elimination )   *
       of underlying securities           )

    (c)Policy regarding substitution or   ) 3 Summary of Portfolio
       elimination of underlying          ) 4 Composition of Trusts
       securities                         )21 How Bonds May Be Removed From
                                          )   The Trusts

    (d)Fundamental policy not otherwise   )   *
       covered                            )

53. Tax status of trust                   )11 What Is The Tax Status Of
                                          )   Unitholders?

    VIII. FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION

54. Trust's securities during last ten years)   *

55.)                                      )   *
56.)Certain information regarding         )
57.)periodic payment certificates         )
58.)                                      )

__________

*Inapplicable, omitted, answer negative or not required.



<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 Registration Statement comprises the following papers and documents:

    The facing sheet

    The Prospectus

    The signatures

    Consents of Counsel

    Exhibits


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
Registrant, Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 807, has duly caused 
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned 
thereunto  duly authorized in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois 
on 5/10/95.
 

                               NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 807
                                  (Registrant)

                                  By JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                                  (Depositor)

                              
                                    By:  Larry Woods Martin 
                                         _______________________
                                         Vice President
                                         

                              
                                Attest:  Morrison C. Warren
                                         ___________________
                                         Assistant Secretary 
                                         


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons 
in the capacities and on the date 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 and  )Larry Woods Martin
                        Director                      )Attorney-in-Fact**
                                                      )
Timothy T. Schwertfeger Executive Vice President and  )
                        Director                      )
                                                      )
O. Walter Renfftlen     Vice President and Controller )
                        (Principal Accounting Officer))
                                                      )
                                                      )5/10/95

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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




<PAGE>


                          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 will be filed by Amendment.

                            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
will be filed by Amendment.

                    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 will be filed by
Amendment.

                    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 will be filed by Amendment.

                      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 will be filed by Amendment.

                        CONSENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

    The consent of Arthur Andersen LLP to the use of its report and to the
reference to such firm in the Prospectus included in the Registration 
Statement will be filed by Amendment.



<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.  Filed as Exhibit 1.1(A) to the Sponsor's
              Registration Statement filed with respect to Series 723
              (File No. 33-52527) and is incorporated herein by reference. 

    1.1(b)    Schedules to Trust Indenture and Agreement (to be supplied by
              amendment).

    1.2*      Copy of Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of John Nuveen
              & Co. Incorporated, Depositor.

    1.3**     Copy of amendment of Certificate of Incorporation changing name
              of Depositor to John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated.

    2.1       Copy of Certificate of Ownership (included in Exhibit 1.1(A) and
              Incorporated herein by reference).

    3.1       Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being registered
              (to be supplied by amendment).

    3.2       Opinion of counsel as to Federal income tax status of securities
              being registered (to be supplied by amendment).

    3.3       Consents of special state counsel to the Fund for state tax
              matters to use of their names in the Prospectus (to be supplied
              by amendment).

    4.1       Consent of Standard + Poor's Corporation (to be supplied by
              amendment).

    4.2       Consent of Kenny S+P Evaluation Services (to be supplied by
              amendment).

    4.3       Consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn (to be supplied by
              amendment).

    6.1       List of Directors and Officers of Depositor and other related
              information (incorporated by reference to Form S-6 [File 
              No. 33-58059] filed on March 13, 1995 on behalf of Nuveen
              Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 795).

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Incorporated by reference to Form N-8B-2 (File No. 811-1547) filed on 
behalf of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 16.

**Incorporated by reference to Form N-8B-2 (File No. 811-2198) filed on 
behalf of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 37.


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