NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 815
487, 1995-07-31
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<PAGE>


                                                      File No. 33-61067
                                                      40 Act File No. 811-2271


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-6

For Registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of Securities of Unit
Investment Trusts Registered on Form N-8B-2

A.  Exact name of Trust:     NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 815

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)

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

- -----
- -----    on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485 or 486

E.  Title and amount of securities being registered:  An indefinite number of
    Units as permitted by Rule 24f-2.

F.  Proposed maximum offering price to the public of the securities being
    registered:  Not presently determinable.

G.  Amount of filing fee:  $500 in accordance with Rule 24f-2.*

H.  Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:

    As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Registration
    Statement.

*Previously Paid
______
          Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective
  X       on 7/31/95 at 1:30 p.m. pursuant to Rule 487.
______


<PAGE>

                 NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 815

                             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 Are Estimated Long Term 
                                          )   Return And 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 Unitholders?
                                          )15 How Detailed Are Reports To
                                              Unitholders?


<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 Are Estimated Long Term 
                                          )   Return And 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>
   
                                 JULY 31, 1995
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
 
NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
             PROSPECTUS
            Series 815
             July 31, 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 815  consists  of  four  underlying
separate  unit investment trusts  designated as Virginia  Traditional Trust 302,
Colorado Insured Trust 59, New Jersey Insured Trust 195 and Pennsylvania Insured
Trust 200.  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, a Division of the McGraw-Hill Companies ("Standard & Poor's")
or Moody's  Investors Service,  Inc. ("Moody's")  on the  Date of  Deposit.  All
obligations  in each Insured Trust are covered by policies of insurance obtained
from the  MBIA  Insurance  Corporation guaranteeing  payment  of  principal  and
interest  when due. All such  policies of insurance remain  effective so long as
the obligations are  outstanding. As a  result of such  insurance, the Bonds  in
each  portfolio of the Insured Trusts have received a rating of "Aaa" by Moody's
and the  Bonds in  the Insured  Trusts and  the Units  of each  such Trust  have
received  a rating of "AAA" by Standard  & Poor's. INSURANCE RELATES ONLY TO THE
BONDS IN THE  INSURED TRUSTS AND  NOT TO THE  UNITS OFFERED HEREBY  OR TO  THEIR
MARKET VALUE. (See Section 5.)
    
 
THE  OBJECTIVES of the Trusts are  tax-exempt income and conservation of capital
through a diversified  investment in tax-exempt  Bonds. (SEE SECTIONS  2, 3  AND
11.)  The payment of interest and the  preservation of principal are, of course,
dependent upon the continuing ability of the issuers of Bonds and of any insurer
thereof to meet  their obligations thereunder.  There is no  guarantee that  the
Trusts' objectives will be achieved. (SEE PAGE A-1.)
 
DISTRIBUTIONS  of interest  received by  each Trust  will be  made semi-annually
unless the Unitholder elects to receive them monthly or quarterly. (SEE  SECTION
13.)  Distribution of funds in the Principal Account, if any, will ordinarily be
made semi-annually.
 
FOR ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS to Unitholders  in
each  Trust on the  business day prior to  the Date of Deposit.  (SEE PAGE 3 AND
SECTION 9.)
 
THE PUBLIC OFFERING  PRICE per Unit  of each Trust  during the initial  offering
period  is equal to a pro rata share of the OFFERING prices of the Bonds in such
Trust's portfolio plus  a sales charge  of up  to 4.90% of  the Public  Offering
Price  (equivalent to 5.152%  of the net  amount invested); the  sales charge is
somewhat lower on Trusts  with lesser average maturities.  (SEE SECTION 6.)  The
Secondary  Market Public Offering Price per Unit for each Trust will be equal to
a pro rata share of the  sum of BID prices of the  Bonds in such Trust plus  the
sales  charges determined based on the number of years remaining to the maturity
of each  Bond. Accrued  interest from  the  preceding Record  Date to,  but  not
including,  the settlement date (normally three business days after purchase) is
added to the Public Offering Price. The  sales charge is reduced on a  graduated
scale  for sales involving at least $50,000 or  500 Units and will be applied on
whichever basis is more favorable to the purchaser. (SEE 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
      Virginia Traditional Trust 302                          3         8-15
      Colorado Insured Trust 59                               3        16-23
      New Jersey Insured Trust 195                            3        24-31
      Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200                          3        32-41
      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         8-41
      Bonds, Removal from Trust                              21         A-34
      Call Provisions of Portfolio Bonds                   3, 4     8-41,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   8-41, 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         8-41
      Investments, Schedules of                               3         8-41
      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-29
      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         8-41
      Successor Trustees and Sponsors                        22         A-35
      Tax Status of Unitholders                              11         A-20
      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>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Virginia Traditional Trust 302...........      5.45%         5.48%           5.50%
  Colorado Insured Trust 59................      5.39%         5.42%           5.44%
  New Jersey Insured Trust 195.............      5.37%         5.40%           5.42%
  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200...........      5.46%         5.49%           5.51%
</TABLE>
    
 
                           ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------
                    TRUST                       MONTHLY      QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
  <S>                                           <C>          <C>            <C>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Virginia Traditional Trust 302...........      5.36%         5.39%           5.41%
  Colorado Insured Trust 59................      5.28%         5.31%           5.33%
  New Jersey Insured Trust 195.............      5.27%         5.30%           5.32%
  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200...........      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
                                 JULY 28, 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>
                                                         VIRGINIA            COLORADO           NEW JERSEY         PENNSYLVANIA
                                                        TRADITIONAL           INSURED             INSURED             INSURED
                                                         TRUST 302           TRUST 59            TRUST 195           TRUST 200
<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                                      ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $    3,500,000      $    3,500,000      $    3,500,000      $    3,500,000
Number of Units.....................................          35,000              35,000              35,000              35,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....        1/35,000            1/35,000            1/35,000            1/35,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $    3,313,980      $    3,297,357      $    3,344,382      $    3,326,465
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $        94.69      $        94.21      $        95.55      $        95.04
    Plus Sales Charge*..............................  $         4.88      $         4.85      $         4.92      $         4.90
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $        99.57      $        99.06      $       100.47      $        99.94
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $        94.23      $        93.73      $        95.07      $        94.56
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $        94.69      $        94.21      $        95.55      $        95.04
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $         5.34      $         5.33      $         5.40      $         5.38
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $         4.88      $         4.85      $         4.92      $         4.90
Calculation of Estimated Net Annual Interest Income
  Per Unit
    Annual Interest Income(2).......................  $       5.5773      $       5.4707      $       5.5400      $       5.6286
    Less Estimated Annual Expense...................  $        .2426      $        .2400      $        .2458      $        .2456
                                                      ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Estimated Net Annual Interest Income(3).........  $       5.3347      $       5.2307      $       5.2942      $       5.3830
Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit......................  $       .01481      $       .01452      $       .01470      $       .01495
Estimated Current Return(4).........................           5.36%               5.28%               5.27%               5.39%
Estimated Long Term Return(4).......................           5.45%               5.39%               5.37%               5.46%
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses Per
  Unit(5)...........................................  $       .03200      $       .02914      $       .02971      $       .03028
 
<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 three business days after purchase). The Date of Deposit of the Fund has been designated  as
    the  First Record  Date for all  plans of distribution  of the 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:
    Virginia  Traditional Trust--$.03,  Colorado Insured  Trust--$.03, New  Jersey Insured  Trust--$.03 and  Pennsylvania Insured
    Trust--$.03. (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.
(5)  Each Trust (and therefore Unitholders) will bear all or  a portion of its organizational costs (including costs of preparing
    the registration statements,  the trust  indenture and other  closing documents,  registering Units with  the Securities  and
    Exchange  Commission and states, the initial audit  of each Trust portfolio, legal fees  and the initial fees and expenses of
    the Trustee but  not including the  expenses incurred in  the printing of  preliminary and final  prospectuses, and  expenses
    incurred  in the preparation and printing of brochures and other  advertising materials and any other selling expenses) as is
    common for mutual funds. Total organizational expenses will be amortized over a five year period. See "WHAT ARE NORMAL  TRUST
    OPERATING  EXPENSES?" and "Statements of Condition."  Historically, the sponsors of unit  investment trusts have paid all the
    costs of establishing such trusts.
</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............................................................July 31, 1995
Settlement Date...................................................................August 3, 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>
  Virginia Traditional Trust 302...........          $1.5311          $1.2111         $1.0211
  Colorado Insured Trust 59................           1.5337           1.2137          1.0237
  New Jersey Insured Trust 195.............           1.5867           1.2667          1.0767
  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200...........           1.5785           1.2585          1.0685
  ------------
  * 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>
  Virginia Traditional Trust 302...........       6706L5 762       6706L5 770      6706L5 788
  Colorado Insured Trust 59................       6706E9 283       6706E9 291      6706E9 309
  New Jersey Insured Trust 195.............       6706LA 100       6706LA 118      6706LA 126
  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200...........       6706H8 225       6706H8 233      6706H8 241
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
   
SERIES 815
    
 
   
1.  WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 815?
    
 
   
Series  815 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 Virginia Traditional Trust 302, Colorado Insured Trust 59,
New Jersey Insured  Trust 195 and  Pennsylvania Insured Trust  200. 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  July  31,  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 $14,000,000 (the  "Bonds"),
which  initially constitute the  underlying securities of  the Trusts. Bonds may
include fixed rate obligations with regularly scheduled interest payments,  zero
coupon  bonds and stripped  obligations, which represent  evidences of ownership
interests with respect to either a principal payment or a payment of interest on
a tax-exempt obligation  ("Stripped Obligations"). See  "SUMMARY OF  PORTFOLIOS"
and  "GENERAL  TRUST INFORMATION"  for  a discussion  of  zero coupon  bonds and
Stripped Obligations. The  following principal  amounts were  deposited in  each
Trust:  $3,500,000 in the Virginia Traditional Trust, $3,500,000 in the Colorado
Insured Trust, $3,500,000 in the New Jersey Insured Trust and $3,500,000 in  the
Pennsylvania  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 Virginia Traditional Trust, 35,000  Units of the Colorado Insured  Trust,
35,000  Units  of  the  New  Jersey  Insured  Trust  and  35,000  Units  of  the
Pennsylvania 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 Virginia Traditional  Trust
are offered for sale to Virginia 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 and  "AAA" by Standard & Poor's. (SEE  SECTION
5.)  All obligations in each Traditional Trust  are rated in the category "A" or
better (SP-1 or MIG 2 or better  in the case of short term obligations  included
in a Short Term Traditional Trust) by Standard &
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
Poor's  or Moody's (including provisional  or conditional ratings). In addition,
certain Bonds  in  certain  Traditional  Trusts  may  be  covered  by  insurance
guaranteeing  the timely payment, when due,  of all principal and interest. (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 rating  of the Bonds or the
Moody's 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>
   
VIRGINIA TRADITIONAL TRUST 302
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio of Virginia  Traditional Trust 302  consists of 6 obligations
issued by entities located  in Virginia and two  obligations issued by  entities
located  in  the  District of  Columbia.  One Bond  in  the Trust  is  a general
obligation of the  governmental entity issuing  it and is  backed by the  taxing
power thereof. Seven 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: College and University Revenue, 1; Health Care Facility Revenue,  2;
Transportation Facility Revenue, 2; Water and/or Sewer Revenue, 1; Miscellaneous
Revenue,  1.  Seven issues  in  the Trust  were rated  by  Standard &  Poor's as
follows: 5--AAA, 1-- AA, 1--AA-. Eight issues were rated by Moody's as  follows:
5--Aaa, 1--Aa, 1--A1, 1--A.
    
 
   
    At  the Date of Deposit,  the average maturity of  the Bonds in the Virginia
Traditional Trust is 21.5 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  are  obligations of  issuers whose  revenues  are primarily  derived from
ownership and operation  of transportation facilities  such as airports,  public
transit  systems  and ports,  all of  which is  covered by  insurance. Insurance
guaranteeing prompt payment of interest and principal on certain of the Bonds in
the Trust has been obtained  by the issuer or underwriter  of such Bonds from  a
commercial  insurer. Such Bonds are  rated "Aaa" or "Aa"  by Moody's or "AAA" or
"AA" by Standard & Poor's, reflecting those rating agencies' current  assessment
of  the creditworthiness  of the insurer  and its  ability to pay  claims on its
policies of insurance.
 
    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. The source  of payment for certain  of
these Bonds, accounting for 15% of the Trust (included in the above percentage),
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 July  27,
1995  and July 28, 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>
  $3,299,773       $14,207           $195,206      $3,297,730                 .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
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
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  Virginia Traditional Trust, less estimated expenses, is estimated to accrue
at the  rate  of  $.01496  per  Unit per  day  under  the  semi-annual  plan  of
distribution,  $.01490 per Unit per day under the quarterly plan of distribution
and $.01481 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 Virginia 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
VIRGINIA TRADITIONAL TRUST                        1995                             1996                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        9/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       9/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .4591(1)                                                  $  5.3347
                                                          --------  $.4443 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .4591(1)   $   .8940(2)   $  1.3410      $  1.3410        $  5.3667
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .4591(1)   $   .8976(3)                  $  2.6928        $  5.3857
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 * Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May  1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1)  The first distribution will be paid to all Unitholders,  regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2) The  second distribution  under the  quarterly  distribution plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent  quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3)  The second distribution  under the semi-annual distribution  plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
    
 
    The accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest  to
be  distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--VIRGINIA TRADITIONAL TRUST
 
    For a discussion  of the  Federal tax status  of income  earned on  Virginia
Traditional Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    The   assets   of   the   Virginia  Traditional   Trust   will   consist  of
interest-bearing obligations  issued by  or  on behalf  of the  Commonwealth  of
Virginia,  its counties,  municipalities, authorities  or political subdivisions
and, provided the interest thereon is  exempt from Virginia income taxes by  the
laws  or treaties of  the United States, by  or on behalf  of the United States'
territories or possessions, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands  and
the  Northern Mariana Islands, and  their political subdivisions and authorities
(the "Virginia Bonds").
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    In the opinion of Christian, Barton, Epps, Brent & Chappell, special counsel
for the Series for Virginia tax matters, under existing law:
 
        The Virginia Traditional Trust will be  treated as a trust for  Virginia
    income tax purposes and not as an association taxable as a corporation. As a
    result,  income of  the Virginia  Traditional Trust  will be  treated as the
    income of the Unitholders.
 
        The calculation of Virginia taxable income begins with Federal  adjusted
    gross  income in the case of an  individual or Federal taxable income in the
    case of a corporation, estate or trust. Certain modifications are specified,
    but no such modification  requires the addition  of interest on  obligations
    such  as the Virginia Bonds in  the Virginia Traditional Trust. Accordingly,
    amounts representing  tax-exempt interest  for Federal  income tax  purposes
    received  or accrued by  the Virginia Traditional Trust  with respect to the
    Virginia Bonds, will not  be taxed to the  Virginia Traditional Trust or  to
    the Unitholders for Virginia income tax purposes.
 
        In  this  respect, to  the extent  that interest  on obligations  of the
    Commonwealth or  any political  subdivision  or instrumentality  thereof  is
    included  in federal adjusted  gross income, Virginia  law provides that the
    income shall  be  subtracted in  arriving  at Virginia  taxable  income.  In
    addition,  Virginia  income  tax  exemption  is  independently  provided for
    interest on  certain  obligations,  including  those  issued  by  industrial
    development   authorities  created  pursuant   to  the  Virginia  Industrial
    Development and  Revenue  Bond  Act, by  the  Virginia  Housing  Development
    Authority, by the Virginia Resources Authority and by the Virginia Education
    Loan Authority. Where such an independent exemption is provided, interest on
    such  obligations is exempt from Virginia  income taxation without regard to
    any exemption from  Federal income  taxes, including interest  which may  be
    subject  to Federal income tax in  the hands of a recipient  who is, or is a
    related person  to,  a substantial  user  of facilities  financed  with  the
    proceeds of obligations upon which such interest is paid.
 
        As  a general rule, to the extent that  gain (whether as a result of the
    sale of Virginia Bonds by the Virginia  Traditional Trust or as a result  of
    the sale of a Unit by the Unitholder) is subject to Federal income taxation,
    such  gain will  be included  in the  Unitholder's Virginia  taxable income.
    Under the language  of certain  enabling legislation, however,  such as  the
    Virginia Industrial Development and Revenue Bond Act, the Virginia Resources
    Authority  Act and  the Virginia  Housing Development  Authority Act, profit
    made on the sale of obligations issued by authorities created thereunder  is
    expressly  exempt from  Virginia income taxation.  Such enabling legislation
    does not appear  to require a  disallowance in the  calculation of  Virginia
    taxes  of any loss  that may be  deductible for Federal  income tax purposes
    with respect  to  such  obligations, although  the  Virginia  Department  of
    Taxation has taken a contrary view.
 
        No   income  tax  is  imposed  by   any  political  subdivision  of  the
    Commonwealth of Virginia.  The Commonwealth  of Virginia does  not impose  a
    gift  tax. The Virginia estate  tax is equal to  the maximum state death tax
    credit allowable against the Federal estate tax payable by the estate.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--VIRGINIA
 
    The Trust  is  susceptible  to political,  economic  or  regulatory  factors
affecting  issuers  of Virginia  Bonds. Without  intending  to be  complete, the
following briefly  summarizes some  of these  matters, as  well as  some of  the
complex factors affecting the financial situation in the
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
Commonwealth of Virginia (the "Commonwealth" or "Virginia"). This information is
derived  from sources that are generally available  to investors and is based in
part on information obtained from  various agencies in Virginia. No  independent
verification  has been  made of  the accuracy  or completeness  of the following
information.
 
    There can  be no  assurance that  current or  future statewide  or  regional
economic  difficulties, and the resulting impact  on State or local governmental
finances generally will not adversely affect the market value of Virginia  Bonds
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.
 
    The  Commonwealth's  financial  condition  is  supported  by  a  broad-based
economy,  including  manufacturing,  tourism,  agriculture,  ports,  mining  and
fisheries.  Manufacturing continues to be a  major source of employment, ranking
behind only services, wholesale and retail trade, and government (federal, state
and local). The federal government  is a major employer  in Virginia due to  the
heavy  concentration of federal employees  in the metropolitan Washington, D.C.,
segment of Northern Virginia  and the military employment  in the Hampton  Roads
area, which houses the nation's largest concentration of military installations,
although  civilian defense employment  has been affected  by the retrenchment of
the military sector and is likely to decrease further.
 
    Although the Commonwealth enjoyed  an economic boom  in the mid-1980's,  the
Commonwealth's economy began to slow toward the end of the decade, and went into
a  recession with the rest of the  nation after July, 1990. Gradual recovery has
continued since the recession's  end in March, 1991,  with the Virginia  economy
providing reason for restrained optimism in fiscal year 1994. Employment figures
furnished  more encouragement than did income data. The state unemployment rates
continued to be a  bright spot, dropping  to 4.9 percent  for fiscal year  1994,
compared  to 6.4  percent nationally. However,  the possibility  of more defense
cutbacks and additional  plant downsizings provided  two cautionary notes.  Real
taxable sales have nearly reached the pre-recession level of fiscal year 1990.
 
    The  impact  of  national trends  on  the  Commonwealth is  clearly  seen in
personal  income  figures.   While  year-to-year  percentage   changes  in   the
Commonwealth personal income generally parallel those at the national level, the
Commonwealth  figures  were higher  during  the first  half  of the  1980's. The
differential has narrowed  since 1988. In  the first quarter  of 1994, the  most
recent available, Virginia's growth rate was 6.1 percent compared to 3.9 percent
for  the nation. While Virginia's real  per capita personal income surpassed the
national  figure  in  1982  and  has  continued  to  exceed  it,  the   relative
differential  has been narrowing since 1989 and  is now the smallest since 1985.
Virginia's 1989 maximum was 106 percent of national per capita income while  the
1993  figure  was 104  percent. In  comparison with  the South  Atlantic region,
Virginia's real per capita  income has declined  from a peak  of 108 percent  in
1989 to 106 percent in 1993.
 
    Virginia's  nonagricultural employment figure has also mirrored the national
economy. For fiscal  year 1994  Virginia's nonagricultural  employment rose  2.9
percent,  comparable to the pre-recession rate. Total nonagricultural employment
for Virginia in June 1994  was a record high.  During the period 1983-1990,  the
Commonwealth  substantially  outpaced the  nation  in growth  of nonagricultural
employment, with  4.1 percent  average  annual growth  compared to  2.8  percent
nationally;  however, the trend  lines for both have  been nearly parallel since
1990. For  the  period 1985-1990,  the  Commonwealth  went ahead  of  the  South
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
Atlantic  region, but was  hit harder by  the recession in  1990 and the defense
adjustment. Since then, the region has outperformed the Commonwealth.
 
    With respect to unemployment, Virginia's unemployment rate has  consistently
been  below that of the nation. For the decade of 1980 to 1990, the differential
has been two percentage  points, although it decreased  to below one  percentage
point  in 1991 and 1992. For the first six months of FY 1994, the Commonwealth's
unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, compared to the national rate of 6.4 percent.
 
    Employment trends in  Virginia are  varied from  sector to  sector and  from
region  to  region. Most  sectors showed  dramatic  improvement compared  to the
anemic performance  in  fiscal  year  1993. Employment  grew  in  seven  of  ten
categories.  This past fiscal year's growth was  led by a 5.4 percent employment
jump in the construction  sector and 5.3 percent  in services. Federal  civilian
employment  slipped 3 percent,  the result of continued  defense cutbacks and an
effort to downsize. Once again, the  greatest percent loss was in mining,  which
suffered  a 7.7 percent drop, a 40  percent greater loss than the previous year.
The service sector  continued to grow  and mining and  manufacturing are now  at
lower  levels than in 1980. Employment trends  also varied among regions. All of
the Commonwealth's metropolitan  statistical areas  showed increased  employment
from  fiscal year  1993 to  fiscal year  1994, ranging  from 1.1  percent to 4.3
percent, with most employment increases being experienced in metropolitan areas.
 
    Highest rates of unemployment were found in southwest Virginia where  mining
jobs  have been  lost and  the lowest unemployment  rates were  seen in Northern
Virginia where much  federally-related employment is  concentrated. As would  be
expected, there was great overlap between areas of lowest unemployment and those
of highest per capita income.
 
    Virginia  appears  to  have  fully  participated  in  the  national economic
recovery, which  has been  slow by  historic standards.  The state  has not  yet
returned  to pre-recession growth rates  for several measures, particularly real
per capita personal income. The next round of defense cutbacks and the uncertain
duration of the economic recovery are  continuing sources of concern. A  growing
diversification  of the state's export base is encouraging for the long-term but
will not insulate the state from vulnerability to increased competition  against
its major products and to economic conditions abroad.
 
    The  Commonwealth  of  Virginia  has  historically  operated  on  a fiscally
conservative basis  and is  required  by its  Constitution  to have  a  balanced
biennial  budget. At the end of the June 30, 1994, fiscal year, the General Fund
of the Commonwealth  had an ending  fund balance, computed  on a budgetary  cash
basis,  of  $518.7  million, of  which  $81  million was  in  required reserves.
Approximately four  hundred  thirty million  of  the general  fund  balance  was
designated for expenditure during the next fiscal year, leaving an undesignated,
unreserved fund balance of $7.6 million, the third consecutive such undesignated
fund  balance. Computed on a modified accrual basis in accordance with generally
accepted accounting  principles, the  General Fund  balance at  the end  of  the
fiscal  year ended June  30, 1994, was  $185.3 million, compared  with a General
Fund balance of minus $78.8 million at the end of the fiscal year ended June 30,
1993. This is the second  year since 1989 that the  General Fund, measured on  a
modified accrual basis, has shown a positive fund balance.
 
    As of June 30, 1994, total debt of the Commonwealth aggregated $8.4 billion.
Of  that amount, $2.5 billion  was tax-supported. Outstanding general obligation
bonded debt backed by  the full faith  and credit of  the Commonwealth was  $792
million  at June  30, 1994.  Of that  amount, $500  million was  also secured by
revenue producing capital projects.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    The  Virginia  Constitution  contains  limits  on  the  amount  of   general
obligation   bonds  which   the  Commonwealth   can  issue.   These  limits  are
substantially in excess of current levels of outstanding bonds, and at June  30,
1994,  would permit an  additional total of approximately  $5.6 billion of bonds
secured  by  revenue-producing  projects  and  approximately  $5.8  billion   of
unsecured  general obligation  bonds for  capital projects,  with not  more than
approximately $921 billion of the latter  to be issued in any four-year  period.
Bonds  which are not secured by revenue-producing projects must be approved in a
State-wide election.
 
    The Commonwealth  of  Virginia  maintains  a "triple  A"  bond  rating  from
Standard  & Poor's  Corporation, Moody's  Investors Service  and Fitch Investors
Service on its  general obligation  indebtedness, reflecting in  part its  sound
fiscal  management, diversified economic base and  low debt ratios. There can be
no assurances that these conditions will continue. Nor are these same conditions
necessarily applicable to securities  which are not  general obligations of  the
Commonwealth.   Securities  issued  by   specific  municipalities,  governmental
authorities or similar issuers may be subject to economic risks or uncertainties
peculiar to the issuers of such securities or the sources from which they are to
be paid.
 
VIRGINIA 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.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      20.0   %     6.25    6.56    6.88    7.19    7.50    7.81    8.13    8.44
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      32.0         7.35    7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19    9.56    9.93
                 114.7-172.1      33.0         7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33    9.70   10.07
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      35.0         7.69    8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62   10.00   10.38
                 114.7-172.1      36.0         7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16   10.55
                 172.1-294.6      38.0         8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      40.5         8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92   11.34
                 172.1-294.6      43.5         8.85    9.29    9.73   10.18   10.62   11.06   11.50   11.95
                  Over 294.6      40.5   2     8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92   11.34
    Over 256.5   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      44.0   3     8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61   12.05
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      20.0         6.25    6.56    6.88    7.19    7.50    7.81    8.13    8.44
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      32.0         7.35    7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19    9.56    9.93
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      35.0         7.69    8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62   10.00   10.38
                 114.7-237.2      36.5         7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      41.5         8.55    8.97    9.40    9.83   10.26   10.68   11.11   11.54
                  Over 237.2      40.5   2     8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92   11.34
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      44.0   3     8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61   12.05
<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
CDs 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 CDs 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
JULY 31, 1995
VIRGINIA TRADITIONAL TRUST 302
(SERIES 815)
    
 
   
<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>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   400,000      Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority          2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       361,000
                   (District of Columbia and Virginia), Airport
                   System Revenue and Refunding Bonds, Series
                   1993A, 5.25% Due 10/1/22. (MBIA Insured.)
    500,000      Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority      2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             463,225
                   (District of Columbia), Gross Revenue Transit
                   Refunding Bonds, Series 1993, 5.25% Due
                   7/1/14. (FGIC Insured.)
    365,000      Virginia Commonwealth University, General           2005 at 102        AA-         A1              354,484
                   Revenue Pledge Bonds, Series 1995, 5.75% Due
                   5/1/15.
    510,000      Industrial Development Authority of Fairfax      No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             452,564
                   County, Virginia, Hospital Revenue Refunding
                   Bonds (Inova Health System Hospitals
                   Project), Series 1993A, 5.00% Due 8/15/14.
                   (FSA Insured.)
    225,000      City of Norfolk, Virginia, Water Revenue Bonds,     2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             205,952
                   Series 1993, 5.375% Due 11/1/23. (AMBAC
                   Insured.)
    500,000      Industrial Development Authority of the County      2005 at 102         --          A              523,195
                   of Prince William (Virginia), Hospital
                   Facility Revenue Bonds (Potomac Hospital
                   Corporation of Prince William), Series 1995,
                   6.75% Due 10/1/15.
    500,000      Riverside Regional Jail Authority (Virginia),       2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             495,000
                   Jail Facility Revenue Bonds, Series 1995,
                   5.875% Due 7/1/14. (MBIA Insured.)
    500,000      City of Roanoke, Virginia, General Obligation       2004 at 102         AA         Aa              458,560
                   Public Improvement Bonds, Series 1994, 5.25%
                   Due 8/1/19.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,313,980
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 42.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
   
COLORADO INSURED TRUST 59
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio of Colorado Insured Trust 59 consists of 6 obligations issued
by entities located in Colorado 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: College and University Revenue, 1; Health Care Facility Revenue, 1;
Transportation Facility Revenue, 1; Combination Utility 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 Colorado
Insured Trust is 25.4  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 13.1% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds)   are    original   issue    discount   bonds.    See   "GENERAL    TRUST
INFORMATION--ORIGINAL  ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS AND  STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for a
discussion of the  characteristics of  such bonds  and of  the risks  associated
therewith.
    
 
    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 July  26,
1995  and July 27, 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>
  $3,282,388       $14,969           $191,475      $3,280,482                 .48%
</TABLE>
    
 
    Neither  cost  to  Sponsor  nor   profit  (or  loss)  to  Sponsor   reflects
underwriting  profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through its
participation  in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or   underwriting
syndicate  purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive bid
basis as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at  a
profit.  The Sponsor did not participate as  either the sole underwriter or as a
manager or member of a syndicate that  acted as the original underwriter of  any
of the Bonds.
 
   
    Unitholders  may elect  to have  interest distributions  made on  a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the Colorado Insured Trust, less estimated  expenses, is estimated to accrue  at
the rate of $.01467 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01461  per Unit per day  under the quarterly plan  of distribution and $.01452
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.
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
    Details  of interest  distributions per Unit  of the  Colorado 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
COLORADO INSURED TRUST                            1995                             1996                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        9/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       9/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .4501(1)                                                  $  5.2307
                                                          --------  $.4356 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .4501(1)   $   .8766(2)   $  1.3149      $  1.3149        $  5.2627
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .4501(1)   $   .8802(3)                  $  2.6406        $  5.2817
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 *  Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1) The first distribution will be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution  may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2)  The  second distribution  under the  quarterly distribution  plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3) The second distribution  under the semi-annual  distribution plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent  semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
    
 
    The  accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest to
be distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are  redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--COLORADO INSURED TRUST
 
    For  a discussion  of the  Federal tax status  of income  earned on Colorado
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    In the opinion of Sherman &  Howard L.L.C., special Colorado counsel to  the
Series, under existing law:
 
        A  Colorado Insured Trust will consist  of obligations which were issued
    by the State  of Colorado  or its political  subdivisions or  by the  United
    States or possessions of the United States including Puerto Rico, the Virgin
    Islands and Guam ("Colorado Bonds").
 
        Because  Colorado income tax  law is based  upon the Federal  law and in
    light of the opinion  of Chapman and Cutler,  the Colorado Insured Trust  is
    not  an association taxable as a corporation for purposes of Colorado income
    taxation.
 
        With respect  to  Colorado  Unitholders, in  view  of  the  relationship
    between  Federal  and  Colorado  tax computations  described  above  and the
    opinion of Chapman and Cutler referred to above:
 
        Each Colorado Unitholder will be treated as owning a share of each asset
    of the  Colorado Insured  Trust for  Colorado income  tax purposes,  in  the
    proportion  that the number of Units of such  Trust held by him bears to the
    total number of  outstanding Units of  the Colorado Insured  Trust, and  the
    income of the Colorado Insured Trust will therefore be treated as the income
    of each Colorado Unitholder under Colorado law in the proportion described.
 
        Interest  on Colorado Bonds that would not be subject to Colorado income
    tax or Colorado  alternative minimum tax  when paid directly  to a  Colorado
    Unitholder will not be subject to Colorado income tax or alternative minimum
    tax  when  received by  the Colorado  Insured Trust  and attributed  to such
    Colorado Unitholder and when distributed to such Colorado Unitholder.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
        Any proceeds paid under an insurance policy issued to the issuer of  the
    Colorado  Bonds involved, to the Depositor  prior to deposit of the Colorado
    Bonds in the Colorado Insured Trust, or to the Colorado Insured Trust, which
    proceeds represent maturing interest on  defaulted Colorado Bonds and  which
    proceeds  would not be subject to Colorado income tax or alternative minimum
    tax when  paid directly  to a  Colorado Unitholder  will not  be subject  to
    Colorado  income and alternative  minimum tax when  received by the Colorado
    Insured  Trust  and  attributed  to   such  Colorado  Unitholder  and   when
    distributed to such Colorado Unitholder.
 
        Each  Colorado Unitholder will realize gain  or loss taxable in Colorado
    when the Colorado  Insured Trust  disposes of  a Colorado  Bond (whether  by
    sale,  exchange, redemption  or payment  at maturity)  or when  the Colorado
    Unitholder redeems or sells Units at a price that differs from original cost
    as adjusted for  amortization of bond  discount or premium  and other  basis
    adjustments (including any basis reduction that may be required to reflect a
    Colorado  Unitholder's share of interest, if any, accruing on Colorado Bonds
    during the interval  between the Colorado  Unitholder's settlement date  and
    the date such Colorado Bonds are delivered to the Colorado Insured Trust, if
    later).
 
        Tax cost reduction requirements relating to amortization of bond premium
    may, under some circumstances, result in Colorado Unitholders realizing gain
    taxable  in Colorado  when their  Units are sold  or redeemed  for an amount
    equal to or less than their original cost.
 
        If  interest  on  indebtedness  incurred  or  continued  by  a  Colorado
    Unitholder to purchase Units in the Colorado Insured Trust is not deductible
    for  Federal income  tax purposes,  it will  not be  deductible for Colorado
    income tax purposes.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--COLORADO
 
    RESTRICTIONS  ON  APPROPRIATIONS  AND  REVENUES.    The  State  Constitution
requires  that expenditures  for any  fiscal year  not exceed  revenues for such
fiscal year.  By statute,  the amount  of General  Fund revenues  available  for
appropriation  is  based  upon  revenue  estimates  which,  together  with other
available resources,  must exceed  annual appropriations  by the  amount of  the
unappropriated   reserve  (the  "Unappropriated  Reserve").  The  Unappropriated
Reserve requirement for fiscal years 1991, 1992 and 1993 was set at 3% of  total
appropriations  from the General Fund. For fiscal years 1994 and thereafter, the
Unappropriated  Reserve  retirement   is  set   at  4%.  In   addition  to   the
Unappropriated  Reserve, a constitutional amendment  approved by Colorado voters
in 1992  requires the  State and  each  local government  to reserve  a  certain
percentage  of  its fiscal  year spending  (excluding  bonded debt  service) for
emergency use (the "Emergency Reserve").  The minimum Emergency Reserve was  set
at  1% for 1993 and 2% for  1994 and is set at 3%  for 1995 and later years. For
fiscal year 1992 and thereafter, General Fund appropriations are also limited by
statute  to  an  amount  equal  to  the  cost  of  performing  certain  required
reappraisals  of taxable property plus an amount equal to the lesser of (i) five
percent of  Colorado personal  income or  (ii) 106%  of the  total General  Fund
appropriations  for the previous fiscal year. This restriction does not apply to
any General Fund appropriations which are required as a result of a new  federal
law, a final state or federal court order or moneys derived from the increase in
the  rate or amount of any  tax or fee approved by  a majority of the registered
electors of the State voting at any general election. In addition, the statutory
limit on the level of  General Fund appropriations may  be exceeded for a  given
fiscal  year  upon the  declaration of  a  State fiscal  emergency by  the State
General Assembly.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
    The 1993 fiscal year ending General  Fund balance was $326.8 million,  which
was  $196.9  million  over  the combined  Unappropriated  Reserve  and Emergency
Reserve requirement. The 1994 fiscal year ending General Fund balance (exclusive
of $39.0 million allocated to Emergency  Reserve) was $320.4 million, or  $188.6
million  over the  required Unappropriated Reserve.  Based on  December 20, 1995
estimates, the 1995 fiscal year ending General Fund balance (exclusive of  $74.1
million  allocated to  Emergency Reserve) is  expected to be  $276.8 million, or
$135.1 million over the required Unappropriated Reserve.
 
    On November 3, 1992, voters in Colorado approved a constitutional  amendment
(the  "Amendment") which,  in general, became  effective December  31, 1992, and
could restrict  the ability  of  the State  and  local governments  to  increase
revenues  and impose  taxes. The  Amendment applies to  the State  and all local
governments, including home rule entities ("Districts"). Enterprises, defined as
government-owned businesses  authorized to  issue  revenue bonds  and  receiving
under  10%  of  annual revenue  in  grants  from all  Colorado  state  and local
governments combined, are excluded from the provisions of the Amendment.
 
    The provisions  of the  Amendment  are unclear  and have  required  judicial
interpretation.   Among  other  provisions,  beginning  November  4,  1992,  the
Amendment requires voter approval prior to  tax increases, creation of debt,  or
mill levy or valuation for assessment ratio increases. The Amendment also limits
increases  in  government  spending  and  property  tax  revenues  to  specified
percentages. The Amendment requires that District property tax revenues yield no
more than  the prior  year's  revenues adjusted  for inflation,  voter  approved
changes  and (except with  regard to school districts)  local growth in property
values according to a formula set  forth in the Amendment. School districts  are
allowed  to adjust tax levies for changes in student enrollment. Pursuant to the
Amendment, local government spending is to be limited by the same formula as the
limitation  for  property  tax  revenues.  The  Amendment  limits  increases  in
expenditures  from the State  General Fund and program  revenues (cash funds) to
the growth in inflation  plus the percentage change  in State population in  the
prior  calendar  year. The  bases for  initial spending  and revenue  limits are
fiscal year 1992 spending and 1991  property taxes collected in 1992. The  bases
for spending and revenue limits for fiscal year 1994 and later years will be the
prior  fiscal year's spending and property taxes collected in the prior calendar
year. Debt service  changes, reductions and  voter-approved revenue changes  are
excluded  from  the  calculation  bases. The  Amendment  also  prohibits  new or
increased real property transfer  tax rates, new State  real property taxes  and
local District income taxes.
 
    Litigation  concerning  several issues  relating to  the Amendment  has been
brought in  the  Colorado courts.  The  litigation deals  with  three  principal
issues:  (i) whether Districts can  increase mill levies to  pay debt service on
general obligation  bonds  without  obtaining voter  approval;  (ii)  whether  a
multi-year  lease-purchase  agreement  subject to  annual  appropriations  is an
obligation which requires voter  approval prior to  execution of the  agreement;
and (iii) what constitutes an "enterprise" which is excluded from the provisions
of  the  Amendment. In  September, 1994,  the Colorado  Supreme Court  held that
Districts can increase  mill levies to  pay debt service  on general  obligation
bonds  issued after  the effective date  of the  Amendment; litigation regarding
mill levy  increases  to  pay  general obligation  bonds  issued  prior  to  the
Amendment  is still pending.  In late 1994,  the Colorado Court  of Appeals held
that multi-year lease-purchase agreements subject to annual appropriation do not
require voter approval. The time to file an appeal in that case has expired.  An
appeal  of the primary case addressing the remaining issue has been heard by the
Colorado Supreme Court; an opinion is expected by mid-1995. The outcome of  that
appeal cannot be predicted at this time.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
    According  to the COLORADO ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE, SECOND QUARTER, FY 1994-95,
DECEMBER 20,  1994 (the  "Economic Report"),  inflation for  1993 was  4.2%  and
population  grew  at  the  rate  of 2.9%  in  Colorado.  Accordingly,  under the
Amendment, increases in State expenditures during  the 1995 fiscal year will  be
limited  to 7.1% over  expenditures during the 1994  fiscal year. The limitation
for the 1996 fiscal year is projected  to be 6.9%, based on projected  inflation
of  4.4% for 1994 and projected population  growth of 2.5% during 1994. The 1994
fiscal year is the base year for calculating the limitation for the 1995  fiscal
year.  For the 1994 fiscal year, General Fund revenues totalled $3,596.1 million
and program revenues (cash funds) totalled $1,659.8 million, resulting in  total
estimated  base revenues of  $5,255.9 million. Expenditures  for the 1995 fiscal
year, therefore, cannot exceed $5,629.1  million. However, the 1995 fiscal  year
General Fund and program revenues (cash funds) are projected to be only $5,536.3
million,  or $92.8  million less  than expenditures  allowed under  the spending
limitation.
 
    There is also a statutory restriction  on the amount of annual increases  in
taxes  that  the  various  taxing jurisdictions  in  Colorado  can  levy without
electoral approval.  This restriction  does not  apply to  taxes levied  to  pay
general obligation debt.
 
    STATE  FINANCES.    As  the  State  experienced  revenue  shortfalls  in the
mid-1980s, it adopted various  measures, including impoundment  of funds by  the
Governor,  reduction  of appropriations  by  the General  Assembly,  a temporary
increase in the  sales tax, deferral  of certain tax  reductions and  inter-fund
borrowings. On a GAAP basis, the State had unrestricted General Fund balances at
June  30 of approximately $134.4 million in  fiscal year 1989, $116.6 million in
fiscal year 1990, $16.3  million in fiscal year  1991, $133.3 million in  fiscal
year  1992, $326.6 million in fiscal year 1993 and $320.4 million in fiscal year
1994. The fiscal year 1995 unrestricted General Fund ending balance is currently
projected to be $276.8 million.
 
    For fiscal year 1994, the  following tax categories generated the  following
percentages  of the  State's $3,596.1  million total  gross receipts: individual
income taxes represented 53.4% of gross  fiscal year 1994 receipts; sales,  use,
and other excise taxes represented 31.2% of gross fiscal year 1994 receipts; and
corporate  income taxes represented 4.1% of gross fiscal year 1994 receipts. The
final  budget  for  fiscal   year  1995  projects   General  Fund  revenues   of
approximately  $3,797.2  million  and appropriations  of  approximately $3,542.1
million. The percentages of  General Fund revenue generated  by type of tax  for
fiscal year 1995 are not expected to be significantly different from fiscal year
1994 percentages.
 
    STATE  DEBT.  Under its constitution, the State of Colorado is not permitted
to issue general obligation bonds  secured by the full  faith and credit of  the
State.  However,  certain  agencies  and  instrumentalities  of  the  State  are
authorized to  issue  bonds  secured  by revenues  from  specific  projects  and
activities.  The State enters into certain  lease transactions which are subject
to annual  renewal  at the  option  of the  State.  In addition,  the  State  is
authorized  to issue  short-term revenue anticipation  notes. Local governmental
units in the State are also  authorized to incur indebtedness. The major  source
of  financing for such  local government indebtedness is  an ad valorem property
tax. In addition, in order to finance public projects, local governments in  the
State  can  issue  revenue bonds  payable  from  the revenues  of  a  utility or
enterprise or from the  proceeds of an excise  tax, or assessment bonds  payable
from  special assessments.  Colorado local  governments can  also finance public
projects through leases which are subject to annual appropriation at the  option
of   the  local  government.  Local  governments  in  Colorado  also  issue  tax
anticipation notes. The Amendment requires prior voter approval for the creation
of any multiple fiscal year debt or other
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
financial obligation  whatsoever,  except for  refundings  at a  lower  rate  or
obligations of an enterprise.
 
    STATE  ECONOMY.   Based  on estimates  published by  the State  of Colorado,
Office of State Planning and Budgeting as presented in the Economic Report, over
50% of non-agricultural employment in Colorado  in 1994 was concentrated in  the
retail  and wholesale  trade and service  sectors, reflecting  the importance of
tourism to  the  State's  economy and  of  Denver  as a  regional  economic  and
transportation  hub. The  government and  manufacturing sectors  followed as the
fourth  and  fifth  largest  employment  sectors  in  the  State,   representing
approximately 17.5% and 11%, respectively, of non-agricultural employment in the
State   in  1994.  The  Office  of   Planning  and  Budgeting  projects  similar
concentrations for 1995 and 1996.
 
    According to the  Economic Report, the  unemployment rate improved  slightly
from  an average  of 5.2% during  1993 to  4.9% during 1994.  Total retail sales
increased by 11.3%  during 1994. Colorado  continued to surpass  the job  growth
rate  of the U.S., with a 3.5% rate of growth estimated for Colorado in 1994, as
compared with 2.6% for the nation as a whole. However, the rate of job growth in
Colorado is expected to decline in 1995, primarily due to the completion in 1994
of large  public works  projects, such  as Denver  International Airport,  Coors
Baseball Field, and the Denver Public Library renovation project, the closure of
Lowry Air Force Base and cutbacks at Rocky Flats.
 
    Personal  income rose 7.4% in Colorado during  1993 and 7.1% in 1992. During
1994, personal  income rose  6.7% in  Colorado, as  compared with  5.9% for  the
nation as a whole.
 
    Economic  conditions  in  the State  may  have continuing  effects  on other
governmental units within the State (including issuers of the Colorado Bonds  in
the  Colorado Insured Trust),  which, to varying  degrees, have also experienced
reduced revenues as a result of recessionary conditions and other factors.
 
COLORADO TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current  returns
for  individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current returns
under combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 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.
 
                                       21
<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      19.5   %     5.90    6.21    6.52    6.83    7.14    7.45    7.76    8.07
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      31.5         6.93    7.30    7.66    8.03    8.39    8.76    9.12    9.49
                 114.7-172.1      32.5         7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26    9.63
    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      37.5         7.60    8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      40.0         7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
                 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      40.0   2     7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
    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      19.5   %     5.90    6.21    6.52    6.83    7.14    7.45    7.76    8.07
    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      41.0         8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02
                  Over 237.2      40.0   2     7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
    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
CDs 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 CDs 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.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
JULY 31, 1995
COLORADO INSURED TRUST 59
(SERIES 815)
    
 
   
<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      Board of Trustees of the State Colleges in          2004 at 101        AAA         Aaa     $       489,730
                   Colorado, Auxiliary Facilities System
                   Enterprise Revenue Bonds, Western State
                   College of Colorado Project, Series C 1994,
                   5.625% Due 5/15/15.
    500,000      Colorado Water Resources and Power Development      2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             501,855
                   Authority, Clean Water Revenue Bonds, 1995
                   Series A, 5.85% Due 9/1/15.
    505,000      Adams County School District No. 1 (Mapleton        2003 at 100        AAA         Aaa             464,948
                   Public Schools), Adams County, Colorado,
                   General Obligation Bonds, Series 1993, 5.25%
                   Due 6/1/17.
    500,000      City of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Utilities       2004 at 100        AAA         Aaa             450,115
                   System Improvement and Refunding Revenue
                   Bonds, Series 1994A, 5.125% Due 11/15/23.
    500,000      City and County of Denver, Colorado, Airport        2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             473,750
                   System Revenue Bonds, Series 1995A, 5.70% Due
                   11/15/25.
    500,000      City and County of Denver, Colorado, Revenue        2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             432,230
                   Bonds, Series 1994 (Sisters of Charity of
                   Leavenworth Health Services Corporation),
                   5.00% Due 12/1/23. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about February 2, 1994
                   at a price of 94.00% of principal amount.)
    495,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2005 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             484,729
                   Bonds of 1995 (General Obligation Bonds.),
                   5.75% Due 7/1/24.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,297,357
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 42.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
   
NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 195
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio of  New Jersey  Insured Trust  195 consists  of 8 obligations
issued by entities located  in New Jersey.  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; College and
University Revenue,  1; Electrical  System Revenue,  1; Industrial  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 and Aaa by Moody's.
    
 
   
    At  the Date of Deposit, the average maturity of the Bonds in the New Jersey
Insured Trust is 27.0  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  4.1% of  the aggregate principal  amount of the  Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 1.2% of the aggregate offering price of  the
Bonds)  are original  issue discount  obligations. All  of these  original issue
discount bonds are "zero coupon" 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.
    
 
    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 July 27,  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>
  $3,330,596       $13,786           $193,900      $3,327,688                 .48%
</TABLE>
    
 
    Neither  cost  to  Sponsor  nor   profit  (or  loss)  to  Sponsor   reflects
underwriting  profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through its
participation  in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or   underwriting
syndicate  purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive bid
basis as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at  a
profit.  The Sponsor did not participate as  either the sole underwriter or as a
manager or member of a syndicate that  acted as the original underwriter of  any
of the Bonds.
 
   
    Unitholders  may elect  to have  interest distributions  made on  a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the New Jersey Insured Trust, less estimated expenses, is estimated to accrue at
the rate of $.01484 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01479 per Unit per  day under the quarterly  plan of distribution and  $.01470
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.
    
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
    Details of interest distributions per Unit  of the New Jersey 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 JERSEY INSURED TRUST                          1995                             1996                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        9/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       9/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .4557(1)                                                  $  5.2942
                                                          --------  $.4410 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .4557(1)   $   .8874(2)   $  1.3311      $  1.3311        $  5.3262
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .4557(1)   $   .8904(3)                  $  2.6712        $  5.3452
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 * Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May  1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1)  The first distribution will be paid to all Unitholders,  regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2) The  second distribution  under the  quarterly  distribution plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent  quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3)  The second distribution  under the semi-annual distribution  plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
    
 
    The accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest  to
be  distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST
 
    For a discussion of the  Federal tax status of  income earned on New  Jersey
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    The  assets of the New Jersey Insured Trust will consist of interest-bearing
obligations issued by  or on behalf  of the  State of New  Jersey and  counties,
municipalities,  authorities  and  other  political  subdivisions  thereof,  and
certain territories  of the  United  States, including  Puerto Rico,  Guam,  the
Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands (the "New Jersey Bonds").
 
    In  the opinion  of Pitney,  Hardin, Kipp  & Szuch,  special counsel  to the
Series for New Jersey tax matters, under existing law:
 
        The New Jersey Insured Trust  will be recognized as  a Trust and not  an
    association  taxable as a corporation. The New Jersey Insured Trust will not
    be subject to  the New  Jersey Corporation Business  Tax or  the New  Jersey
    Corporation Income Tax.
 
        With  respect to the non-corporate Unitholders  who are residents of New
    Jersey, the income of the  New Jersey Insured Trust  will be treated as  the
    income  of such Unitholders under the  New Jersey Gross Income Tax. Interest
    on the underlying New Jersey  Bonds which is exempt  from tax under the  New
    Jersey  Gross Income Tax Law  when received by the  New Jersey Insured Trust
    will retain  its  status as  tax-exempt  interest when  distributed  to  the
    Unitholders.
 
        A  non-corporate Unitholder will not be  subject to the New Jersey Gross
    Income Tax on  any gain realized  either when the  New Jersey Insured  Trust
    disposes  of a  New Jersey Bond  (whether by sale,  exchange, redemption, or
    payment at maturity) or when the Unitholder redeems or sells his Units.  Any
    loss  realized  on such  disposition  may not  be  utilized to  offset gains
    realized by such Unitholder on the  disposition of assets the gain on  which
    is subject to the New Jersey Gross Income Tax.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
        Units  of the New Jersey Insured Trust may  be taxable on the death of a
    Unitholder under the  New Jersey  Transfer Inheritance  Tax Law  or the  New
    Jersey Estate Tax Law.
 
        If  a Unitholder is a corporation  subject to the New Jersey Corporation
    Business Tax or New Jersey Corporation  Income Tax, interest from the  Bonds
    in  the New Jersey Insured Trust which is allocable to such corporation will
    be includable  in its  entire net  income  for purposes  of the  New  Jersey
    Corporation  Business Tax  or New  Jersey Corporation  Income Tax,  less any
    interest expense  incurred  to carry  such  investment to  the  extent  such
    interest  expense has not been deducted in computing Federal taxable income.
    Net gains derived by such corporation  on the disposition of the New  Jersey
    Bonds  by the New  Jersey Insured Trust  or on the  disposition of its Units
    will be included in  its entire net  income for purposes  of the New  Jersey
    Corporation Business Tax or New Jersey Corporation Income Tax.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--NEW JERSEY
 
    As  described above, the New Jersey Insured Trust consists of a portfolio of
New Jersey Bonds. The Trust is  therefore susceptible to political, economic  or
regulatory  factors affecting  issuers of  the New  Jersey Bonds.  The following
information provides  only  a brief  summary  of  some of  the  complex  factors
affecting  the financial  situation in New  Jersey (the "State")  and is derived
from sources that  are generally available  to investors and  is believed to  be
accurate.  It is based  in part on  information obtained from  various State and
local agencies in New Jersey. No  independent verification has been made of  any
of the following information.
 
   
    New  Jersey is the ninth largest state  in population and the fifth smallest
in land area. With an  average of 1,062 people per  square mile, it is the  most
densely  populated of all the states.  The State's economic base is diversified,
consisting of a variety of  manufacturing, construction and service  industries,
supplemented by rural areas with selective commercial agriculture. Historically,
New Jersey's average per capita income has been well above the national average,
and  in 1993  the State ranked  second among  the states in  per capita personal
income ($26,732).
    
    The New Jersey Economic  Policy Council, a statutory  arm of the New  Jersey
Department  of Commerce  and Economic  Development, has  reported in  NEW JERSEY
ECONOMIC INDICATORS,  a monthly  publication  of the  New Jersey  Department  of
Labor,  Division of Labor Market and Demographic Research, that in 1988 and 1989
employment in  New Jersey's  manufacturing  sector failed  to benefit  from  the
export  boom experienced by many Midwest states and the State's service sectors,
which had  fueled the  State's  prosperity since  1982,  lost momentum.  In  the
meantime,  the prolonged fast growth in the State in the mid 1980s resulted in a
tight labor market situation, which has led to relatively high wages and housing
prices. This  means  that,  while  the  incomes  of  New  Jersey  residents  are
relatively  high,  the State's  business sector  has  become more  vulnerable to
competitive pressures.
 
    The onset of  the national recession  (which officially began  in July  1990
according to the National Bureau of Economic Research) caused an acceleration of
New  Jersey's job  losses in  construction and  manufacturing. In  addition, the
national recession  caused an  employment downturn  in such  previously  growing
sectors  as wholesale trade,  retail trade, finance,  utilities and trucking and
warehousing. Reflecting the downturn, the rate of unemployment in the State rose
from a low of 3.6% during the first quarter of 1989 to an estimated 6.6% in June
1995, which is higher than the national  average of 5.6% in June 1995.  Economic
recovery  is  likely to  be slow  and  uneven in  New Jersey,  with unemployment
receding at a correspondingly slow pace, due  to the fact that some sectors  may
lag due to continued excess
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
capacity.  In addition, employers even in  rebounding sectors can be expected to
remain cautious about hiring until they become convinced that improved  business
will  be sustained. Also,  certain firms will  continue to merge  or downsize to
increase profitability.
 
   
    DEBT SERVICE. The primary method for State financing of capital projects  is
through  the sale of the general obligation  bonds of the State. These bonds are
backed by the full faith and credit of the State tax revenues and certain  other
fees  are pledged to meet  the principal and interest  payments and if provided,
redemption premium payments, if any, required to repay the bonds. As of June 30,
1994, there  was a  total authorized  bond indebtedness  of approximately  $9.14
billion,  of which  $3.65 billion was  issued and outstanding,  $4.0 billion was
retired (including bonds for which provision  for payment has been made  through
the  sale and issuance of  refunding bonds) and $1.49  billion was unissued. The
appropriation for the debt service  obligation on such outstanding  indebtedness
is $466.3 million for Fiscal Year 1996.
    
   
    NEW JERSEY'S BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION SYSTEM. The State operates on a fiscal
year  beginning July 1 and ending June 30. At the end of Fiscal Year 1989, there
was a  surplus in  the  State's general  fund (the  fund  into which  all  State
revenues  not  otherwise  restricted by  statute  are deposited  and  from which
appropriations are made)  of $411.2  million. At the  end of  Fiscal Year  1990,
there was a surplus in the general fund of $1 million. At the end of Fiscal Year
1991, there was a surplus in the general fund of $1.4 million. New Jersey closed
its  Fiscal Year 1992 with a surplus of $760.8 million and Fiscal Year 1993 with
a surplus of $937.4 million. It is  estimated that New Jersey closed its  Fiscal
Year  1994 with a surplus of $926.0 million  and Fiscal Year 1995 with a surplus
of $563 million.
    
    In order  to  provide additional  revenues  to balance  future  budgets,  to
redistribute  school aid and to  contain real property taxes,  on June 27, 1990,
and July  12,  1990, Governor  Florio  signed  into law  legislation  which  was
estimated to raise approximately $2.8 billion in additional taxes (consisting of
$1.5  billion in  sales and  use taxes  and $1.3  billion in  income taxes), the
biggest tax hike in New Jersey history. There can be no assurance that  receipts
and collections of such taxes will meet such estimates.
 
    The  first  part of  the tax  hike took  effect  on July  1, 1990,  with the
increase in the State's sales and use tax rate from 6% to 7% and the elimination
of exemptions for certain  products and services not  previously subject to  the
tax,  such as telephone calls, paper products (which has since been reinstated),
soaps and detergents, janitorial  services, alcoholic beverages and  cigarettes.
At  the  time  of enactment,  it  was  projected that  these  taxes  would raise
approximately $1.5 billion in additional  revenue. Projections and estimates  of
receipts  from sales and  use taxes, however,  have been subject  to variance in
recent fiscal years.
 
    The second part of the tax hike took effect on January 1, 1991, in the  form
of  an increased state income  tax on individuals. At  the time of enactment, it
was projected  that this  increase  would raise  approximately $1.3  billion  in
additional income taxes to fund a new school aid formula, a new homestead rebate
program  and state assumption of welfare  and social services costs. Projections
and estimates of receipts from income taxes, however, have also been subject  to
variance  in  recent  fiscal  years. Under  the  legislation,  income  tax rates
increased from their previous range of  2% to 3.5% to a  new range of 2% to  7%,
with the higher rates applying to married couples with incomes exceeding $70,000
who file joint returns, and to individuals filing single returns with incomes of
more than $35,000.
 
    The  Florio administration  had contended that  the income  tax package will
help reduce  local  property  tax  increases by  providing  more  state  aid  to
municipalities.   Under  the  income  tax  legislation  the  State  will  assume
approximately $289 million in social services costs that previously were paid by
counties   and    municipalities   and    funded   by    property   taxes.    In
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
addition, under the new formula for funding school aid, an extra $1.1 billion is
proposed  to be sent  by the State  to school districts  beginning in 1991, thus
reducing the need for property tax increases to support education programs.
 
    Effective July 1, 1992, the State's sales and use tax rate decreased from 7%
to 6%. Effective January 1, 1994, an across-the-board 5% reduction in the income
tax rates was enacted and effective January 1, 1995, further reductions  ranging
from  1% up to  10% in income  tax rates took  effect. Governor Whitman recently
signed into  law further  reductions  up to  15%  for some  taxpayers  effective
January 1, 1996, completing her campaign promise to reduce income taxes by up to
30% within three years for most taxpayers.
 
    On June 30, 1995, Governor Whitman signed the New Jersey Legislature's $16.0
billion  budget for Fiscal  Year 1996. The balanced  budget, which includes $541
million in surplus, is $300 million more than the 1995 budget. Whether the State
can achieve a  balanced budget  depends on its  ability to  enact and  implement
expenditure reductions and to collect estimated tax revenues.
 
   
    LITIGATION. The State is a party in numerous legal proceedings pertaining to
matters  incidental to the performance  of routine governmental operations. Such
litigation includes, but is  not limited to, claims  asserted against the  State
arising   from  alleged  torts,  alleged  breaches  of  contracts,  condemnation
proceedings and other alleged violations of State and Federal laws. Included  in
the  State's  outstanding litigation  are cases  challenging the  following: the
funding of teachers' pension  funds, the method by  which the State shares  with
its   counties  maintenance  recoveries   and  costs  for   residents  in  State
institutions, unreasonably low Medicaid  payment rates for long-term  facilities
in  New  Jersey, the  obligation of  counties to  maintain Medicaid  or Medicare
eligible residents  of  institutions  and  facilities  for  the  developmentally
disabled,  the hospital assessment  authorized by the Health  Care Reform Act of
1992, amounts previously paid by hospitals  into the Health Care Cost  Reduction
Fund,  various  provisions, and  the constitutionality,  of the  Fair Automobile
Insurance Reform Act of 1990, the State's role in a consent order concerning the
construction of a resource facility in Passaic County, actions taken by the  New
Jersey Bureau of Securities against an individual, the State's actions regarding
alleged  chromium contamination  of State-owned  property in  Hudson County, the
issuance of emergency redirection orders and a draft permit by the Department of
Environmental Protection and Energy, refusal of  the State to share with  Camden
County  federal funding the  State recently received  for disproportionate share
hospital   payments   made   to   county   psychiatric   facilities,   and   the
constitutionality  of annual A-901  hazardous and solid  waste licensure renewal
fees collected by the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy. Adverse
judgments in  these and  other matters  could have  the potential  for either  a
significant  loss of revenue  or a significant  unanticipated expenditure by the
State.
    
    At any given  time, there are  various numbers of  claims and cases  pending
against  the State,  State agencies and  employees seeking  recovery of monetary
damages that are  primarily paid out  of the  fund created pursuant  to the  New
Jersey  Tort  Claims Act.  In addition,  at  any given  time, there  are various
numbers of contract claims against the State and State agencies seeking recovery
of monetary damages.  The State  is unable to  estimate its  exposure for  these
claims.
 
    DEBT  RATINGS. For many years prior to 1991, both Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. and Standard and Poor's Corporation had rated New Jersey general obligation
bonds "Aaa" and  "AAA," respectively.  On July  3, 1991,  however, Standard  and
Poor's  Corporation downgraded New Jersey general  obligation bonds to "AA+." On
June 4,  1992,  Standard  and  Poor's  Corporation  placed  New  Jersey  general
obligation bonds on CreditWatch with negative
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
implications,  citing as  its principal  reason for  its caution  the unexpected
denial by the  Federal Government of  New Jersey's request  for $450 million  in
retroactive  Medicaid  payments  for  psychiatric  hospitals.  These  funds were
critical to closing  a $1  billion gap  in the  State's $15  billion budget  for
fiscal  year 1992 which ended on June 30,  1992. Under New Jersey state law, the
gap in the current  budget must be  closed before the new  budget year began  on
July  1, 1992. Standard  and Poor's Corporation suggested  the State could close
fiscal 1992's budget gap and help fill fiscal 1993's hole by a reversion of $700
million of pension contributions to its general fund under a proposal to  change
the  way the State calculates  its pension liability. On  July 6, 1992, Standard
and Poor's  Corporation  reaffirmed its  "AA+"  rating for  New  Jersey  general
obligation  bonds and  removed the debt  from its CreditWatch  list, although it
stated that New Jersey's long-term financial outlook was negative. Standard  and
Poor's  Corporation was  concerned that the  State was entering  the 1993 fiscal
year that began  July 1,  1992, with  a slim  $26 million  surplus and  remained
concerned  about whether the sagging State  economy would recover quickly enough
to meet lawmakers'  revenue projections.  It also remained  concerned about  the
recent federal ruling leaving in doubt how much the State was due in retroactive
Medicaid  reimbursements and a ruling by a  federal judge, now on appeal, of the
State's method for paying for uninsured hospital patients. However, on July  27,
1994,  S&P announced that it  was changing the State's  outlook from negative to
stable due to a  brightening of the  State's prospects as  a result of  Governor
Whitman's  effort  to trim  spending and  cut taxes,  coupled with  an improving
economy. S&P reaffirmed its "AA+" rating at the same time.
 
    On August 24, 1992,  Moody's Investors Service,  Inc. downgraded New  Jersey
general  obligation  bonds  to "Aa1",  stating  that the  reduction  reflected a
developing pattern of  reliance on  nonrecurring measures  to achieve  budgetary
balance,  four years  of financial operations  marked by  revenue shortfalls and
operating deficits, and  the likelihood that  serious financial pressures  would
persist.  On August 5, 1994, Moody's reaffirmed  its "Aa1" rating, citing on the
positive side New Jersey's broad-based  economy, high income levels, history  of
maintaining  a  positive financial  position and  moderate (albeit  rising) debt
ratios, and, on the negative side, a continued reliance on one-time revenues and
a dependence on pension-related savings to achieve budgetary balance.
 
NEW JERSEY TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current  returns
for  individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current returns
under combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 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.
 
                                       29
<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      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      17.0   %     5.42    5.72    6.02    6.33    6.63    6.93    7.23    7.53
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      32.5         6.67    7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26
                 114.7-172.1      33.0         6.72    7.09    7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      35.0         6.92    7.31    7.69    8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62
                 114.7-172.1      36.0         7.03    7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77
                 172.1-294.6      38.5         7.32    7.72    8.13    8.54    8.94    9.35    9.76   10.16
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      41.0         7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
                 172.1-294.6      44.0         8.04    8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16
                  Over 294.6      41.0   2     7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      47.5         8.57    9.05    9.52   10.00   10.48   10.95   11.43   11.90
                  Over 294.6      44.5   3     8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      17.0   %     4.52    5.72    6.02    6.33    6.63    6.93    7.23    7.53
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      32.5         6.67    7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      35.5         6.98    7.36    7.75    8.14    8.53    8.91    9.30    9.69
                 114.7-237.2      37.0         7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      42.0         7.76    8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78
                  Over 237.2      41.0   2     7.63    8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      44.5   3     8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
<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
CDs 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 CDs 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.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
JULY 31, 1995
NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 195
(SERIES 815)
    
 
   
<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      New Jersey Economic Development Authority,          2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       507,010
                   Market Transition Facility Senior Lien
                   Revenue Bonds, Series 1994A, 5.875% Due
                   7/1/11.
    500,000      New Jersey Economic Development Authority,          2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             493,100
                   Water Facilities Revenue Refunding Bonds
                   (Hackensack Water Company Project-1994 Series
                   A), 5.80% Due 3/1/24.
    500,000      New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority,        2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             503,950
                   Revenue Bonds, New Jersey Institute of
                   Technology Issue, Series 1994A, 6.00% Due
                   7/1/24.
    355,000      New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority,     2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             347,620
                   Transportation System Bonds, 1995 Series A,
                   5.50% Due 6/15/11. (When issued.)
    145,000      The Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority  No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa              41,022
                   (New Jersey), County Agreement Sewer Revenue
                   Capital Appreciation Bonds, 1990A Series,
                   0.00% Due 9/1/17. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about February 21, 1990
                   at a price of 13.71% of principal
                   amount.)(General Obligation Bonds.)
    500,000      The Board of Education of the Great Meadows         2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa
                   Regional School District in the County of
                   Warren, New Jersey, School Bonds,
                 110M-5.90% Due 1/15/18,                                                                            110,000
                 285M-5.90% Due 1/15/20,                                                                            285,000
                 105M-5.90% Due 1/15/22.                                                                            105,000
                   (General Obligation Bonds.)
    500,000      The Pollution Control Financing Authority of        2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             466,355
                   Salem County (New Jersey), Pollution Control
                   Revenue Refunding Bonds, 1993 Series C
                   (Public Service Electric and Gas Company
                   Project), 5.55% Due 11/1/33.
    500,000      The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,      2005 at 101        AAA         Aaa             485,325
                   Consolidated Bonds, One Hundredth Series,
                   5.75% Due 6/15/30.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,344,382
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 42.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
   
PENNSYLVANIA INSURED TRUST 200
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio of Pennsylvania  Insured Trust 200  consists of 7 obligations
issued by entities located in Pennsylvania. One  Bond in the Trust is a  general
obligation  of the governmental  entity issuing it  and is backed  by the taxing
power thereof. Six Bonds in the Trust  are payable as to principal and  interest
from  the income of a specific project or authority and are not supported by the
issuer's power to levy taxes. The sources of payment for these bonds are divided
as follows: Electrical System Revenue, 2; Health Care Facility Revenue, 2; Water
and/or Sewer Revenue, 2. All  of the Bonds in the  Trust, as insured, are  rated
AAA by Standard & Poor's and Aaa by Moody's.
    
 
   
    At  the  Date  of  Deposit,  the  average  maturity  of  the  Bonds  in  the
Pennsylvania Insured Trust is 26.5 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 13.1% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds)    are   original    issue   discount    bonds.   See    "GENERAL   TRUST
INFORMATION--ORIGINAL ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS  AND STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for  a
discussion  of the  characteristics of  such bonds  and of  the risks associated
therewith.
    
 
    Approximately 29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust  consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily derived
from the sale of electric energy.
 
    Approximately 29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust  consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily derived
from the sale of water and/or sewerage services.
 
    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 July 27,
1995 and July 28, 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>
  $3,312,597       $13,868           $197,000      $3,309,590                 .48%
</TABLE>
    
 
    Neither   cost  to  Sponsor  nor  profit   (or  loss)  to  Sponsor  reflects
underwriting profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through  its
participation   in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or  underwriting
syndicate purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive  bid
basis  as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at a
profit. The Sponsor did not participate as  either the sole underwriter or as  a
manager  or member of a syndicate that  acted as the original underwriter of any
of the Bonds.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
   
    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  Pennsylvania Insured Trust, less estimated expenses, is estimated to accrue
at the  rate  of  $.01509  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 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 Pennsylvania 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
PENNSYLVANIA INSURED TRUST                        1995                             1996                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        9/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       9/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .4634(1)                                                  $  5.3830
                                                          --------  $.4485 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .4634(1)   $   .9024(2)   $  1.3536      $  1.3536        $  5.4150
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .4634(1)   $   .9054(3)                  $  2.7162        $  5.4340
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 * Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May  1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1)  The first distribution will be paid to all Unitholders,  regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2) The  second distribution  under the  quarterly  distribution plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent  quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3)  The second distribution  under the semi-annual distribution  plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
    
 
    The accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest  to
be  distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--PENNSYLVANIA INSURED TRUST
 
    For a discussion of the Federal tax status of income earned on  Pennsylvania
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    In  the opinion of  Dechert Price & Rhoads,  special Pennsylvania counsel to
the Series, under existing law:
 
        Units evidencing  fractional  undivided interests  in  the  Pennsylvania
    Insured  Trust  are  not  subject  to any  of  the  personal  property taxes
    presently in effect in Pennsylvania to the extent of that proportion of  the
    Trust  represented by Bonds issued by  the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its
    agencies and  instrumentalities,  or by  any  county, city,  borough,  town,
    township,  school  district,  municipality  and  local  housing  or  parking
    authority in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or issued by Puerto Rico,  the
    Virgin Islands, Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands ("Pennsylvania Bonds").
    The  taxes referred to  above include the County  Personal Property Tax, the
    additional personal property  taxes imposed on  Pittsburgh residents by  the
    School  District of Pittsburgh  and by the  City of Pittsburgh.  The City of
    Pittsburgh, the School  District of Pittsburgh  and Allegheny County  cannot
    impose  personal property taxes as of  January 1, 1995. Pennsylvania Insured
    Trust Units may  be taxable  under the Pennsylvania  inheritance and  estate
    taxes.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
        The  proportion  of interest  income  representing interest  income from
    Pennsylvania Bonds distributed  to Unitholders of  the Pennsylvania  Insured
    Trust is not taxable under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax or under the
    Corporate  Net Income Tax imposed  on corporations by Article  IV of the Tax
    Reform Code. Nor will such interest be taxable under the Philadelphia School
    District Investment Income Tax imposed on Philadelphia resident individuals.
 
        The disposition by the Pennsylvania Insured Trust of a Pennsylvania Bond
    (whether by  sale, exchange,  redemption or  payment at  maturity) will  not
    constitute  a taxable event to a  Unitholder under the Pennsylvania Personal
    Income Tax if the  Pennsylvania Bond was issued  prior to February 1,  1994.
    Further, although there is no published authority on the subject, counsel is
    of  the opinion that (i) a Unitholder of the Pennsylvania Insured Trust will
    not have a taxable event under the Pennsylvania state and local income taxes
    referred to in the preceding paragraph (other than the Corporate Net  Income
    Tax)  upon  the  redemption or  sale  of his  Unit  to the  extent  that the
    Pennsylvania Insured Trust  is then comprised  of Pennsylvania Bonds  issued
    prior  to February  1, 1994  and (ii)  the dispositions  by the Pennsylvania
    Insured Trust of a Pennsylvania Bond (whether by sale, exchange,  redemption
    or  payment at maturity) will not constitute a taxable event to a Unitholder
    under the  Corporate Net  Income  Tax or  the Philadelphia  School  District
    Investment  Income Tax if the Pennsylvania Bond was issued prior to February
    1, 1994.  (The  School  District tax  has  no  application to  gain  on  the
    disposition of property held by the taxpayer for more than six months.)
 
        Gains  on the  sale, exchange, redemption,  or payment at  maturity of a
    Pennsylvania Bond issued on or after February 1, 1994, will be taxable under
    all of these taxes, as will gains on the redemption or sale of a unit to the
    extent that the Trust is comprised of Pennsylvania Bonds issued on or  after
    February 1, 1994.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--PENNSYLVANIA
 
    RISK   FACTORS--Prospective   investors   should   consider   the  financial
difficulties and pressures which the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and certain of
its municipal subdivisions have undergone. Both the Commonwealth and the City of
Philadelphia have historically experienced significant revenue shortfalls. There
can be no assurance that the  Commonwealth will not experience further  declines
in  economic conditions or that portions  of the municipal obligations purchased
by the Fund  will not  be affected  by such  declines. Without  intending to  be
complete,  the following briefly  summarizes some of  these difficulties and the
current financial situation, as  well as some of  the complex factors  affecting
the financial situation in the Commonwealth. It is derived from sources that are
generally  available to investors  and is based in  part on information obtained
from various agencies in the Commonwealth. No independent verification has  been
made of the following information.
 
    STATE  ECONOMY--Pennsylvania  has been  historically  identified as  a heavy
industry state although that reputation  has changed recently as the  industrial
composition  of the Commonwealth  diversified when the  coal, steel and railroad
industries began to decline. The major new sources of growth in the Commonwealth
are in the  service sector, including  trade, medical and  the health  services,
education and financial institutions. The Commonwealth's agricultural industries
are  also an important component of  its economic structure, accounting for more
than $3.6 billion in crop and livestock products annually while agribusiness and
food related industries support $39 billion in economic activity annually.
 
   
    Employment within the  Commonwealth increased  steadily from  1984 to  1990.
From  1991 to  1994, employment  in the  Commonwealth declined  1.2 percent. The
growth in
    
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
   
employment experienced in the Commonwealth during such periods is comparable  to
the  growth in employment  in the Middle  Atlantic region of  the United States.
Non-manufacturing employment in  the Commonwealth has  increased steadily  since
1980  to  its  1994 level  of  82.0  percent of  total  Commonwealth employment.
Manufacturing,  which  contributed   18.0  percent   of  1994   non-agricultural
employment,  has fallen behind both the services  sector and the trade sector as
the largest single source  of employment within the  Commonwealth. In 1994,  the
services sector accounted for 29.9 percent of all non-agricultural employment in
the Commonwealth while the trade sector accounted for 22.9 percent.
    
 
   
    The  Commonwealth recently experienced a  slowdown in its economy. Moreover,
economic strengths and weaknesses vary  in different parts of the  Commonwealth.
In  general,  heavy  industry  and  manufacturing  have  been  facing increasing
competition from foreign producers. During 1994, the annual average unemployment
rate in the Commonwealth was 6.2 percent compared to 6.1 percent for the  United
States.  For June 1995 the  unadjusted unemployment rate was  6.0 percent in the
Commonwealth and 5.8 percent in the United States, while the seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate for the Commonwealth was 6.2 percent and for the United States
was 5.6 percent.
    
 
    STATE BUDGET--The  Commonwealth  operates under  an  annual budget  that  is
formulated and submitted for legislative approval by the Governor each February.
The  Pennsylvania  Constitution  requires that  the  Governor's  budget proposal
consist of three parts: (i) a  balanced operating budget setting forth  proposed
expenditures  and estimated revenues from all sources and, if estimated revenues
and available surplus are less than proposed expenditures, recommending specific
additional sources of revenue sufficient to  pay the deficiency; (ii) a  capital
budget  setting forth proposed expenditures to  be financed from the proceeds of
obligations of the  Commonwealth or its  agencies or from  operating funds;  and
(iii)  a financial plan for not less than the succeeding five fiscal years, that
includes for each year projected  operating expenditures and estimated  revenues
and  projected expenditures for capital projects.  The General Assembly may add,
change or delete  any items  in the  budget prepared  by the  Governor, but  the
Governor  retains veto  power over the  individual appropriations  passed by the
legislature. The Commonwealth's fiscal  year begins on July  1 and ends on  June
30.
 
    All  funds  received by  the Commonwealth  are  subject to  appropriation in
specific amounts by the  General Assembly or by  executive authorization by  the
Governor.  Total appropriations enacted  by the General  Assembly may not exceed
the ensuing  year's  estimated revenues,  plus  (less) the  unappropriated  fund
balance  (deficit) of the preceding year, except for constitutionally authorized
debt service payments. Appropriations from the principal operating funds of  the
Commonwealth  (the General  Fund, the Motor  License Fund and  the State Lottery
Fund)  are  generally  made  for  one  fiscal  year  and  are  returned  to  the
unappropriated  surplus of the fund if not spent or encumbered by the end of the
fiscal year. The Constitution specifies that a surplus of operating funds at the
end of a fiscal year must be appropriated for the ensuing year.
 
    Pennsylvania  uses  the  "fund"  method  of  accounting  for  receipts   and
disbursements. For purposes of government accounting, a "fund" is an independent
fiscal  and accounting entity  with a self-balancing  set of accounts, recording
cash and/or other resources together  with all related liabilities and  equities
that  are  segregated for  the  purpose of  carrying  on specific  activities or
attaining certain objectives in accordance with the fund's special  regulations,
restrictions  or  limitations. In  the Commonwealth,  over  150 funds  have been
established by  legislative  enactment or  in  certain cases  by  administrative
action  for the  purpose of  recording the  receipts and  disbursement of moneys
received by the Commonwealth.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
Annual budgets are adopted each fiscal year for the principal operating funds of
the Commonwealth  and  several other  special  revenue funds.  Expenditures  and
encumbrances  against these  funds may  only be  made pursuant  to appropriation
measures enacted  by the  General Assembly  and approved  by the  Governor.  The
General  Fund,  the  Commonwealth's  largest fund,  receives  all  tax revenues,
non-tax revenues and federal grants and  entitlements that are not specified  by
law  to be deposited elsewhere. The majority of the Commonwealth's operating and
administrative expenses are payable from the  General Fund. Debt service on  all
bond  indebtedness of the Commonwealth, except  that issued for highway purposes
or for the benefit of other special  revenue funds, is payable from the  General
Fund.
 
    Financial  information for the principal operating funds of the Commonwealth
are maintained on a budgetary basis of accounting, which is used for the purpose
of ensuring compliance with the enacted operating budget. The Commonwealth  also
prepares  annual  financial  statements in  accordance  with  generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP"). Budgetary basis financial reports are based on a
modified cash basis  of accounting  as opposed to  a modified  accrual basis  of
accounting  prescribed  by GAAP.  Financial  information is  adjusted  at fiscal
year-end to reflect appropriate accruals  for financial reporting in  conformity
with GAAP.
 
    RECENT  FINANCIAL  RESULTS--From fiscal  1984,  when the  Commonwealth first
prepared its financial  statements on  a GAAP  basis, through  fiscal 1989,  the
Commonwealth  reported a  positive unreserved-undesignated fund  balance for its
governmental fund types at each fiscal year end. Slowing economic growth  during
1990, leading to a national economic recession beginning in fiscal 1991, reduced
revenue   growth  and   increased  expenditures  and   contributed  to  negative
unreserved-undesignated fund balances  at the end  of the 1990  and 1991  fiscal
years.  The  negative unreserved-undesignated  fund balance  was due  largely to
operating deficits in the General Fund  and the State Lottery Fund during  those
fiscal  years. Actions taken during  fiscal 1992 to bring  the General Fund back
into balance, including tax increases and expenditure restraints, resulted in  a
$1.1  billion reduction to the unreserved-undesignated fund deficit for combined
governmental fund  types at  June 30,  1993, as  a result  of a  $420.4  million
increase  in  the balance.  These gains  were produced  by continued  efforts to
control expenditure growth.  The Combined  Balance Sheet  as of  June 30,  1993,
showed  total fund  balance and  other credits  for the  total governmental fund
types of $1,959.9 million,  a $732.1 million increase  from the balance at  June
30,  1992. During  fiscal 1993,  total assets  increased by  $1,296.7 million to
$7,096.4  million,  while  liabilities  increased  $564.6  million  to  $5,136.5
million.
 
    FISCAL 1991 FINANCIAL RESULTS--The Commonwealth experienced a $453.6 million
General  Fund  deficit  as of  the  end of  its  1991 fiscal  year.  The deficit
reflected higher than  budgeted expenditures,  below-estimate economic  activity
and  growth rates of economic indicators  and total tax revenue shortfalls below
those assumed in the enacted budget.
 
    Rising  demands  on  state  programs  caused  by  the  economic   recession,
particularly  for  medical  assistance  and cash  assistance  programs,  and the
increased costs  of special  education programs  and correction  facilities  and
programs,  contributed  to  increased  expenditures in  fiscal  1991,  while tax
revenues for  the  1991 fiscal  year  were  severely affected  by  the  economic
recession.  Total corporation tax receipts and sales and use tax receipts during
fiscal 1991  were,  respectively, 7.3  percent  and 0.9  percent  below  amounts
collected during fiscal 1990. Personal income tax receipts also were affected by
the  recession but  not to  the extent  of the  other major  General Fund taxes,
increasing only 2.0 percent over fiscal 1990 collections.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
    A  number  of  actions  were  taken  throughout  the  fiscal  year  by   the
Commonwealth  to mitigate  the effects of  the recession on  budget revenues and
expenditures. The  Commonwealth  initiated  a number  of  cost-saving  measures,
including  the  firing  of  2,000 state  employees,  deferral  of  paychecks and
reduction of funds to state  universities, which resulted in approximately  $871
million cost savings.
 
    FISCAL 1992 FINANCIAL RESULTS--Actions taken during fiscal 1992 to bring the
General  Fund budget back into balance,  including tax increases and expenditure
restraints resulted in a $1.1 billion reduction for the  unreserved-undesignated
fund  deficit for combined  governmental fund types  and a return  to a positive
fund balance.  Total  General  Fund  revenues for  fiscal  1992  were  $14,516.8
million,  which is approximately 22 percent  higher than fiscal 1991 revenues of
$11,877.3 million due  in large part  to tax increases.  The increased  revenues
funded  substantial  increases  in education,  social  services  and corrections
programs. As a  result of the  tax increases and  certain appropriation  lapses,
fiscal  1992 ended with  an $8.8 million  surplus after having  started the year
with an unappropriated General Fund balance deficit of $453.6 million.
 
    FISCAL 1993 FINANCIAL RESULTS--Fiscal 1993 closed with revenues higher  than
anticipated  and expenditures approximately as projected, resulting in an ending
unappropriated balance surplus of  $242.3 million. A  deduction in the  personal
income  tax  rate  in  July  1992 and  the  one-time  receipt  of  revenues from
retroactive corporate tax increases  in fiscal 1992  were responsible, in  part,
for the low growth in fiscal 1993.
 
    FISCAL  1994 FINANCIAL RESULTS--Commonwealth revenues during the 1994 fiscal
year totaled $15,210.7 million,  $38.6 million above  the fiscal year  estimate,
and  3.9 percent  over commonwealth  revenues during  the 1993  fiscal year. The
sales tax was an  important contributor to the  higher than estimated  revenues.
The  strength of collections from  the sales tax offset  the lower than budgeted
performance of the  personal income tax  that ended the  1994 fiscal year  $74.4
million below estimate. The shortfall in the personal income tax was largely due
to  shortfalls in income not subject  to withholding such as interest, dividends
and other income. Expenditures, excluding pooled financing expenditures and  net
of  all fiscal 1994 appropriation lapses, totaled $14,934.4 million representing
a 7.2 percent  increase over  fiscal 1993 expenditures.  Medical assistance  and
prisons  spending contributed to the rate of spending growth for the 1994 fiscal
year. The Commonwealth maintained an operating balance on a budgetary basis  for
fiscal  1994 producing  a fiscal  year ending  unappropriated surplus  of $335.8
million.
 
   
    FISCAL 1995 BUDGET--On June  16, 1994, the Governor  signed a $15.7  billion
General  Fund budget, an  increase of over  3.9% from the  Fiscal 1994 budget. A
substantial  amount  of  the  increase  was  targeted  for  medical   assistance
expenditures, reform of the state-funded public assistance program and education
subsidies  to local  school districts. The  budget also  included tax reductions
totaling an estimated $166.4 million benefiting principally low income  families
and  corporations. Fiscal 1995 was projected to end with a $3.2 million year-end
unappropriated surplus.
    
 
   
    FISCAL 1996 BUDGET--On June  30, 1995, the Governor  signed a $16.2  billion
general  fund budget, an  increase of approximately 2.8  percent from the fiscal
1995 budget.  Areas  receiving  the  largest  budgetary  increases  are  medical
assistance  and basic education.  In addition, the  budget accelerated corporate
net income  tax  rate reductions,  eliminated  the  inheritance tax  paid  by  a
surviving  spouse  on  jointly  owned  property,  and  made  other  business tax
reductions.
    
 
    DEBT LIMITS AND OUTSTANDING DEBT--The Pennsylvania Constitution permits  the
issuance  of the following types  of debt: (i) debt  to suppress insurrection or
rehabilitate areas
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
affected by  disaster; (ii)  electorate approved  debt; (iii)  debt for  capital
projects subject to an aggregate outstanding debt limit of 1.75 times the annual
average  tax  revenues  of  the  preceding  five  fiscal  years;  and  (iv)  tax
anticipation notes payable in the fiscal year of issuance.
 
    Under the  Pennsylvania Fiscal  Code,  the Auditor  General is  required  to
certify  to the Governor and the  General Assembly certain information regarding
the Commonwealth's  indebtedness. According  to the  February 28,  1995  Auditor
General  certificate, the average annual tax  revenues deposited in all funds in
the five fiscal years ended June  30, 1994 was approximately $16.5 billion,  and
therefore,  the net debt limitation  for the 1995 fiscal  year is $28.8 billion.
Outstanding net debt totaled $4.0 billion at June 30, 1994, approximately  equal
to  the net  debt at June  30, 1993.  At February 28,  1995, the  amount of debt
authorized by law to be issued, but not yet incurred, was $16.7 billion.
 
    DEBT RATINGS--All outstanding general  obligation bonds of the  Commonwealth
are rated AA- by S&P and A1 by Moody's.
 
    CITY   OF   PHILADELPHIA--The   City   of   Philadelphia   (the   "City"  or
"Philadelphia")  is  the   largest  city  in   the  Commonwealth.   Philadelphia
experienced a series of general fund deficits for fiscal years 1988 through 1992
which  have culminated in the City's  present serious financial difficulties. In
its  1992  Comprehensive  Annual  Financial  Report,  Philadelphia  reported   a
cumulative general fund deficit of $71.4 million for fiscal year 1992.
 
    In  June  1991, the  Pennsylvania  legislature established  the Pennsylvania
Intergovernmental Cooperation  Authority  ("PICA"), a  five-member  board  which
oversees  the  fiscal  affairs  of the  City  of  Philadelphia.  The legislation
empowers PICA  to issue  notes and  bonds on  behalf of  Philadelphia, and  also
authorizes  Philadelphia to levy  a one-percent sales tax  the proceeds of which
would be used  to pay off  the bonds.  In return for  PICA's fiscal  assistance,
Philadelphia is required, among other things, to establish a five-year financial
plans   that  include  balanced  annual   budgets.  Under  the  legislation,  if
Philadelphia does  not comply  with such  requirements, PICA  may withhold  bond
revenues and certain state funding.
 
    At  this time, the City is operating  under a five-year fiscal plan approved
by PICA on April 6, 1992. Full implementation of the five-year plan was  delayed
due  to labor  negotiations that  were not  completed until  October 1992, three
months after the expiration  of the old  labor contracts. The  terms of the  new
labor  contracts are  estimated to cost  approximately $144.4  million more than
what was budgeted in the original five-year plan. An amended five-year plan  was
approved  by  PICA in  May  1993. The  Mayor's  latest update  of  the five-year
financial plan was approved by PICA on May 2, 1994.
 
    As of November 17, 1994, PICA has issued $1,296.7 million of its Special Tax
Revenue Bonds. In accordance with the enabling legislation, PICA was  guaranteed
a  percentage of the wage tax revenue expected to be collected from Philadelphia
residents to permit repayment of the bonds.
 
    In January 1993, Philadelphia anticipated  a cumulative general fund  budget
deficit  of $57 million for the 1993 fiscal year. In response to the anticipated
deficit, the Mayor unveiled a financial plan eliminating the budget deficit  for
the  1993 budget year through  significant service cuts that  included a plan to
privatize certain city  provided services. Due  to an upsurge  in tax  receipts,
cost-cutting  and additional  PICA borrowings,  Philadelphia completed  the 1993
fiscal year with a balanced general  fund budget. The audit findings for  fiscal
1993  show a cumulative general fund surplus of approximately $3 million for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1993.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
    In January 1994, the Mayor proposed a $2.3 billion city general fund  budget
that  included no  tax increases,  no significant service  cuts and  a series of
modest health  and welfare  program  increases. At  that  time, the  Mayor  also
unveiled  a $2.2 billion program  (the "Philadelphia Economic Stimulus Program")
designed to stimulate Philadelphia's economy and  stop the loss of 1,000 jobs  a
month.  In its 1994 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Philadelphia reported
a cumulative general fund surplus of approximately $15.4 million for the  fiscal
year ended June 30, 1994.
 
    The  Standard & Poor's Corporation rating on Philadelphia general obligation
bonds is "B-." Moody's rating is currently "Baa."
 
    LITIGATION--The Commonwealth is  a party  to numerous lawsuits  in which  an
adverse  final decision could materially  affect the Commonwealth's governmental
operations and consequently its ability to pay debt service on its  obligations.
The  Commonwealth also faces tort claims made  possible by the limited waiver of
sovereign immunity effected by Act 152, approved September 28, 1978, as amended.
 
PENNSYLVANIA 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.
 
                                       39
<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      17.5   %     5.76    6.06    6.36    6.67    6.97    7.27    7.58    7.88
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      30.0         6.79    7.14    7.50    7.86    8.21    8.57    8.93    9.29
                 114.7-172.1      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      33.0         7.09    7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33    9.70
                 114.7-172.1      34.0         7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85
                 172.1-294.6      36.5         7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      39.0         7.79    8.20    8.61    9.02    9.43    9.84   10.25   10.66
                 172.1-294.6      41.5         8.12    8.55    8.97    9.40    9.83   10.26   10.68   11.11
                  Over 294.6      39.0   2     7.79    8.20    8.61    9.02    9.43    9.84   10.25   10.66
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      45.5         8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93
                  Over 294.6      42.5   3     8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30
</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      17.5         5.76    6.06    6.36    6.67    6.97    7.27    7.58    7.88
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      30.0         6.79    7.14    7.50    7.86    8.21    8.57    8.93    9.29
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      33.0         7.09    7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33    9.70
                 114.7-237.2      34.5         7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      39.5         7.85    8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74
                  Over 237.2      39.0   2     7.79    8.20    8.61    9.02    9.43    9.84   10.25   10.66
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      42.5   3     8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30
<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
CDs 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 CDs 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.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
JULY 31, 1995
PENNSYLVANIA INSURED TRUST 200
(SERIES 815)
    
 
   
<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      County of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, General          2005 at 100        AAA         Aaa     $       469,505
                   Obligation Bonds, Series C-44, 5.375% Due
                   6/1/15.
    500,000      Beaver County (Pennsylvania) Industrial             2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             458,940
                   Development Authority, Pollution Control
                   Revenue Refunding Bonds, 1993 Series A (Ohio
                   Edison Company Mansfield Project), 5.45% Due
                   9/15/33.
    500,000      Lancaster County Hospital Authority, Lancaster,     2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             435,305
                   Pennsylvania, Health Center Revenue Refunding
                   Bonds, Series of 1994 (Masonic Homes
                   Project), 5.00% Due 11/15/20. (Original issue
                   discount bonds delivered on or about March 1,
                   1994 at a price of 92.378% of principal
                   amount.)
    500,000      Lehigh County (Pennsylvania) General Purpose        2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             492,760
                   Authority, Hospital Revenue Bonds (Lehigh
                   Valley Hospital, Inc.), Series A of 1995,
                   5.875% Due 7/1/15.
    500,000      Lehigh County Industrial Development Authority,     2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             515,985
                   Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds,
                   1994 Series B (Pennsylvania Power & Light
                   Company Project), 6.40% Due 9/1/29.
    500,000      City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Water and       2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             475,220
                   Wastewater Revenue Bonds, Series 1995, 5.60%
                   Due 8/1/18.
    500,000      The Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) Water and Sewer       2005 at 100        AAA         Aaa             478,750
                   Authority, Water and Sewer System Subordinate
                   Revenue Bonds, Series B of 1995, 5.70% Due
                   9/1/20.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,326,465
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 42.
 
                                       41
<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
        and Aaa by Moody's. (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.
 
                                       42
<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 815:
    
 
   
       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  815
     (comprising Virginia Traditional Trust 302, Colorado Insured Trust 59,
     New Jersey Insured Trust 195  and Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200),  as
     of July 31, 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 815
     as of July 31, 1995, in conformity with generally accepted  accounting
     principles.
    
 
                                                        ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
     Chicago, Illinois,
     July 31, 1995.
    
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
                            Statements of Condition
   
                    NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 815
    
   
 (Virginia Traditional Trust 302, Colorado Insured Trust 59, New Jersey Insured
                 Trust 195 and Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200)
    
   
                              AS OF JULY 31, 1995
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             VIRGINIA            COLORADO           NEW JERSEY         PENNSYLVANIA
                                            TRADITIONAL           INSURED             INSURED             INSURED
    TRUST PROPERTY                           TRUST 302           TRUST 59            TRUST 195           TRUST 200
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-
 Exempt Bonds, backed by an irrevocable
 letter of credit(1)(2).................  $     3,313,980     $     3,297,357     $     3,344,382     $     3,326,465
Accrued interest to July 31, 1995 on
  underlying Bonds(1)...................           59,666              40,376              30,968              45,344
Organizational costs(3).................            5,600               5,100               5,200               5,300
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,379,246     $     3,342,833     $     3,380,550     $     3,377,109
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
   LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITY:
    Accrued interest to July 31, 1995 on
      underlying Bonds(4)...............  $        59,666     $        40,376     $        30,968     $        45,344
    Accrued organizational costs(3).....            5,600               5,100               5,200               5,300
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $        65,266     $        45,476     $        36,168     $        50,644
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided
      interest outstanding (Virginia
      Traditional Trust 302-- 35,000;
      Colorado Insured Trust 59--35,000;
      New Jersey Insured Trust
      195--35,000; Pennsylvania Insured
      Trust 200--35,000)
      Cost to investors(5)..............  $     3,484,716     $     3,467,237     $     3,516,685     $     3,497,844
        Less: Gross underwriting
          commission(6).................         (170,736)           (169,880)           (172,303)           (171,379)
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Net amount applicable to
      investors.........................  $     3,313,980     $     3,297,357     $     3,344,382     $     3,326,465
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,379,246     $     3,342,833     $     3,380,550     $     3,377,109
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
<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) Each Trust  (and therefore  Unitholders) will bear  all or  a portion  of its estimated  organizational costs  which will  be
    deferred and amortized over five years from the Initial Date of Deposit.
(4) 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.
(5) Aggregate Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed as set forth under Section 6.
(6) 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>
    
 
                                       44
<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,  formerly   known  as  Municipal   Bond  Investors  Assurance
Corporation, is the  principal operating subsidiary  of MBIA, Inc.,  a New  York
Stock  Exchange listed company. MBIA, Inc. is  not obligated to pay the debts of
or claims against the  Insurer. The Insurer is  a limited liability  corporation
rather  than a  several liability association.  The Insurer is  domiciled in the
State of New York  and licensed to  do business in all  50 states, the  District
 
                                      A-10
<PAGE>
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  March 31,  1995  the Insurer  had  admitted assets  of  $3.5 billion
(unaudited), total liabilities  of $2.4 billion  (unaudited), and total  capital
and  surplus of $1.1 billion (unaudited) determined in accordance with statutory
accounting  practices   prescribed   or  permitted   by   insurance   regulatory
authorities.  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>
 
    Standard  & Poor's  rates all  new issues  insured by  the Association "AAA"
Prime Grade.
 
                                      A-11
<PAGE>
    Moody's 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  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 rates  all new issues insured  by the Insurer "AAA"  Prime
Grade."
 
    The  Moody's rating of the Insurer  should be evaluated independently of the
Standard & Poor's 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. The Insurer  does
not  guarantee the  market price  of the  Bonds nor  does it  guarantee that the
ratings on the Bonds will not be reversed or withdrawn.
 
    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 and/or  "AAA" by  Standard  & Poor's  in recognition  of  such
insurance.
 
    If  a Bond in  a Traditional Trust  is insured, the  Schedule of Investments
will identify the insurer. Such insurance will be provided by Financial Guaranty
Insurance  Company  ("FGIC"),  AMBAC   Indemnity  Corporation  ("AMBAC"),   Bond
Investors  Guaranty  Insurance  Company, now  known  as MBIA  Corp.  of Illinois
("BIG"),  Capital  Guaranty  Insurance  Company  ("CGIC"),  Financial   Security
Assurance,   Inc.   ("FSA"),   Municipal   Bond   Insurance   Association   (the
"Association"), 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
 
                                      A-12
<PAGE>
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  has  rated  the
claims-paying  ability of  each insurer "AAA,"  and Moody's has  rated all bonds
insured by each such insurer, except ConnieLee, "Aaa." Moody's 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 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
 
                                      A-13
<PAGE>
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  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
 
                                      A-14
<PAGE>
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 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.
 
                                      A-15
<PAGE>
    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 will
be added to the Public Offering Price to determine the purchase price of  Units.
The date of settlement is currently three business days after purchase.
 
    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.
 
    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
 
                                      A-16
<PAGE>
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 as  the  Trustee can  complete the  mechanics  of
registration.  The date  of settlement  is currently  three business  days after
purchase. Normally, Certificates, if  any, are mailed by  the Trustee within  48
hours  after registration instructions are received. Purchasers of Units to whom
Certificates are issued will be unable to exercise any right of redemption until
they have received  their Certificates  as tender of  the Certificate,  properly
endorsed for transfer. (See Section 19.)
 
    Each  Unit of  each respective  Trust initially  offered by  this Prospectus
represents that fractional  undivided interest  in such  Trust as  is set  forth
under "Essential Information Regarding the Trusts." To the extent that any Units
of  any Trust are  redeemed by the  Trustee, the aggregate  value of the Trust's
assets will decrease  by the amount  paid to the  redeeming Unitholder, but  the
fractional  undivided  interest  of  each unredeemed  Unit  in  such  Trust will
increase proportionately.  The Sponsor  will initially,  and from  time to  time
thereafter, hold Units in connection with their offering.
 
8.  WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?
 
Accrued  interest is the accumulation of unpaid interest on a bond from the last
day on which  interest thereon  was paid.  Interest on  Bonds in  each Trust  is
accounted  for daily on an accrual basis. For this reason, the purchase price of
Units of a Trust will  include not only the Public  Offering Price but also  the
proportionate  share of  accrued interest  to the  date of  settlement. Interest
accrues to the  benefit of Unitholders  commencing with the  settlement date  of
their purchase transaction.
 
    Accrued interest does not include accrual of original issue discount on zero
coupon  bonds, Stripped Obligations or other original issue discount bonds. (See
"Summary of Portfolios--General Trust Information"  and "What Is The Tax  Status
of Unitholders.")
 
    In  an effort to reduce the amount  of accrued interest that investors would
have to pay in addition to the Public Offering Price, the Trustee has agreed  to
advance  to each Trust the amount of accrued interest due on the Bonds as of the
Date of Deposit (which has been designated  the first Record Date for all  plans
of distribution). This accrued interest will be
 
                                      A-17
<PAGE>
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, less  any distributions from the related
Interest Account. The date of settlement is currently three business days  after
purchase.  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 third business day
following the date of sale or tender.
 
9.  WHAT ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?
 
The Estimated Long Term Return for each Trust is a measure of the return to  the
investor  earned over the estimated  life of the Trust.  The Estimated Long Term
Return represents an average of the yields to maturity (or call) of the Bonds in
the Trust's portfolio calculated in  accordance with accepted bond practice  and
adjusted  to reflect expenses  and sales charges.  Under accepted bond practice,
tax-exempt bonds are customarily offered to investors on a "yield price"  basis,
which  involves computation  of yield  to maturity  or to  an earlier  call date
(whichever produces the lower yield), and which takes into account not only  the
interest  payable  on the  bonds but  also  the amortization  or accretion  to a
specified date of any premium over or discount from the par (maturity) value  in
the  bond's  purchase  price. In  calculating  Estimated Long  Term  Return, the
average yield for  the Trust's  portfolio is  derived by  weighting each  Bond's
yield by the market value of the Bond and by the amount of time remaining to the
date  to which the Bond is priced. Once the average portfolio yield is computed,
this figure is then reduced to reflect estimated expenses and the effect of  the
maximum  sales  charge  paid  by  investors.  The  Estimated  Long  Term  Return
calculation does not take into account the effect of a first distribution  which
may  be less than a regular  distribution or may be paid  at some point after 30
days (or a second distribution which may be less than a normal distribution  for
Unitholders  who choose quarterly or semi-annual  plans of distribution), and it
also does  not  take  into account  the  difference  in timing  of  payments  to
Unitholders  who choose quarterly or semi-annual  plans of distribution, each of
which will reduce the return.
 
                                      A-18
<PAGE>
    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  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.
 
                                      A-19
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                      A-20
<PAGE>
        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.
 
    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
 
                                      A-21
<PAGE>
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" 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
 
                                      A-22
<PAGE>
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.
 
   
    All or  a portion  of  the expenses  incurred  in establishing  the  Trusts,
including costs of preparing the registration statement, the trust indenture and
other  closing  documents, registering  Units with  the Securities  and Exchange
Commission and states, the initial audit of each Trust portfolio, legal fees and
the initial  fees  and  expenses  of the  Trustee  and  any  other  non-material
out-of-pocket  expenses, will be paid by the Trusts and amortized over the first
five years of such Trusts.  The following are 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 third business day following the date of tender, the Unitholder  will
be  entitled to receive  in cash for each  Unit tendered an  amount equal to the
Unit Value of such Trust determined by the Trustee, as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time
on the date of tender  as defined hereafter, plus  accrued interest to, but  not
including, the third business day after the date of tender ("Redemption Price").
The  price received upon redemption may be more  or less than the amount paid by
the Unitholder depending on the value of  the Bonds on the date of tender.  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.  A description of the applicable Standard & Poor's 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  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.  A brief description of  the applicable Moody's 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>
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                                      A-44
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<C>                <S>        <C>
           NUVEEN             Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
                           PROSPECTUS
                           140,000 Units
                           Virginia Traditional Trust
                           302
                           Colorado Insured Trust 59
                           New Jersey Insured Trust 195
                           Pennsylvania Insured Trust
                           200
</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.
 
   
   815
    
<PAGE>

Statement of differences between electronic filing and printed document.
   Pursuant to Rule 499(c) (7) under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule
20-11 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Registrant hereby identifies
those differences in the foregoing document between the electronic format in
which it is filed and the printed form in which it will be circulated:
   (1) The printed and distributed prospectus may be paged differently
because the printed document may contain a different amount of information on
each page from that contained in the electronic transmission.
   (2) On the cover page, in the index and on the last page of the printed
document, solid vertical bars will appear.
   (3) In the printed document, footnote symbols may include a "dagger" or
multiple "dagger".  The "dagger" symbol is represented as # in the electronic
document.
   (4) The printed and distributed prospectus will not  contain the
preliminary prospectus legend included at the beginning of the first
prospectus page.


<PAGE>

                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A.  BONDING ARRANGEMENTS OF DEPOSITOR:

    The Depositor has obtained  the following Stockbrokers Blanket Bonds
for its officers, directors and employees:

    INSURER/POLICY NO.                                     AMOUNT

    United Pacific Insurance Co.                           $10,000,000
    Reliance Insurance Company
    B 74 92 20

    Aetna Casualty and Surety                              $10,000,000
    08 F10618BCA

    St. Paul Insurance Co.                                 $ 6,000,000
    400 HC 1051

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

              The facing sheet

              The cross-reference sheet
 
              The Prospectus

              The signatures

              Consents of Independent Public
              Accountants and Counsel as indicated

              Exhibits as listed on page S-5


<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

    The Registrant, Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815 hereby
identifies Series 401, 507, 512, 515, 517, 519, 723 and 814 of the Nuveen
Tax-Exempt Unit Trust for purposes of the representations required by 
Rule 487 and represents the following:

    (1) that the portfolio securities deposited in the series as to the
securities of which this Registration Statement is being filed do not differ
materially in type or quality from those deposited in such previous series;

    (2) that, except to the extent necessary to identify the specific
portfolio securities deposited in, and to provide essential financial
information for, the series with respect to the securities of which this
Registration Statement is being filed, this Registration Statement does not
contain disclosures that differ in any material respect from those contained
in the registration statements for such previous series as to which the
effective date was determined by the Commission or the staff; and

    (3) that it has complied with Rule 460 under the Securities Act of 1933.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815 has duly caused this
Amendment of Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized in the City of Chicago and State of
Illinois on 7/31/95.

 
                                NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 815
                                (Registrant)

                                By JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                                (Depositor)


                       
                                By: Gifford Zimmerman
                                    _________________________________
                                    Vice President


                        
                           Attest:  Morrison C. Warren
                                    __________________________________
                                    Assistant Secretary


<PAGE>

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
of Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in 
the capacities and on the dates indicated:


    SIGNATURE                     TITLE*                       DATE

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

O. Walter Renfftlen     Vice President and Controller )
                        (Principal Accounting Officer))
                                                      )
                                                      )7/31/95
___________________

*The titles of the persons named herein represent their capacity in and
relationship to John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Depositor.

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



<PAGE>

815

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

    The consent of Arthur Anderson LLP to the use of its name in the Prospectus
included in the Registration Statement is filed by this amendment as Exhibit
4.4 to the Registratin Statement.
                       
                        CONSENT OF CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

    The consent of Chapman and Cutler to the use of its name in the Prospectus
included in the Registration Statement is contained in its opinions filed by
this amendment as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to the Registration Statement.

                            CONSENT OF STATE COUNSEL

    The consents of special counsel to the Fund for state tax matters to the 
use of their names in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement 
are contained in their opinions filed by this amendment as Exhibit 3.3 to the
Registration Statement.

                          CONSENT OF STANDARD & POOR'S,
                     A DIVISION OF THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES 

    The consent of Standard & Poor's, a Division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, to the use of its name in the Prospectus included in the Registration
Statement is filed by this amendment as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration
Statement.

                   CONSENT OF KENNY S&P EVALUATION SERVICES

    The consent of Kenny S&P Evaluation Services to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement is filed by this amendment 
as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement.

                      CONSENT OF CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN

    The consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement is filed by this amendment 
as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement.

<PAGE>

                                LIST OF EXHIBITS


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

1.1 (b)  Schedules to the Trust Indenture and Agreement.

2.1      Copy of Certificate of Ownership (Included in Exhibit 1.1(a) on
         pages 2 to 8, inclusive, and incorporated herein by reference).

3.1      Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being registered.

3.2      Opinion of counsel as to Federal income tax status of securities
         being registered.

3.3      Opinions of special state counsel to the Fund for state tax matters
         as to income tax status to residents of the respective states of the
         units of the respective trusts and consents to the use of their names
         in the Prospectus.

4.1      Consent of Standard & Poor's, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

4.2      Consent of Kenny S&P Evaluation Services.

4.3      Consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn.

4.4      Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP

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).  

                                                                      
<PAGE>                                                                        
                                                                              
Exhibit 1.1(b)                                                                
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                 SCHEDULE A                                   
                                                                              
                                                                              
Series 815                                           July 31, 1995            
                                                                              
Item 1.  This Indenture relates to the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust           
         Series 815.                                                          
                                                                              
Item 2.  The date of this Indenture is July 31, 1995.                         
                                                                              
Item 3.  Series 815 shall initially contain Trusts as follows:                
                                                                              
         (a)   Virginia Traditional Trust 302                                 
         (b)   Colorado Insured Trust 59                                      
         (c)   New Jersey Insured Trust 195                                   
         (d)   Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200                                 
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 4.  Each Trust shall initially consist of the following number of Units: 
                                                                              
         (a)   Virginia Traditional Trust               35,000 Units          
         (b)   Colorado Insured Trust                   35,000 Units          
         (c)   New Jersey Insured Trust                 35,000 Units          
         (d)   Pennsylvania Insured Trust               35,000 Units          
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 5.  (a) The amount of the second distribution from the Interest          
             Account of the respective Trusts will be as follows:             
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Virginia Traditional Trust              $ .4591 per Unit       
         ( 2)  Colorado Insured Trust                  $ .4501 per Unit       
         ( 3)  New Jersey Insured Trust                $ .4557 per Unit       
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust              $ .4634 per Unit       
                                                                              
         (b) The date of the second distribution from the Interest Account    
             of the respective Trusts will be as follows:                     
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Virginia Traditional Trust              September 15, 1995     
         ( 2)  Colorado Insured Trust                  September 15, 1995     
         ( 3)  New Jersey Insured Trust                September 15, 1995     
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust              September 15, 1995     
                                                                              
         (c) The record date for the second distribution from the             
             Interest Account of the respective Trusts will be as             
             follows:                                                         
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Virginia Traditional Trust              September 1, 1995      
         ( 2)  Colorado Insured Trust                  September 1, 1995      
         ( 3)  New Jersey Insured Trust                September 1, 1995      
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust              September 1, 1995      
                                                                              
                                                                              
         PAGE 2                                                               
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 6.  Record dates for subsequent semi-annual distributions from the       
         Interest Account for each of the respective Trusts will be the 1st   
         day of May and November of each year.                                
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 7.  (a) Record date for distibution from the Principal Account of each   
             of the respective Trusts will be the first day of May and        
             November of each year.                                           
                                                                              
         (b) The first record date for distributions from the Principal       
             Account of each of the respective Trusts will be                 
             November 1, 1995.                                                
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 8.  The Trust shall in no event continue beyond the end of the calendar  
         year preceding the fiftieth anniversary of the execution of this     
         Indenture for National and State Trusts, beyond the end of the       
         calendar year preceding the twentieth anniversary of its execution   
         for Long Intermediate and Intermediate Trusts and beyond the end of  
         the calendar year preceding the tenth anniversary of its execution   
         for Short Intermediate and Short Term Trusts.                        
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 9.  Quarterly distributions from the Interest Account of the respective  
         Trusts will be computed as of the 1st day of February, May, August,  
         and November.                                                        
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 10. Certain deductions from the Interest Account by the Trustee          
         will commence as follows:                                            
                                                                              
         (a)   Virginia Traditional Trust              September 1, 1995      
         (b)   Colorado Insured Trust                  September 1, 1995      
         (c)   New Jersey Insured Trust                September 1, 1995      
         (d)   Pennsylvania Insured Trust              September 1, 1995      
                                                                              
Item 11. (a)  For services performed prior to the date indicated in           
              Item 5(c) of this Schedule A, the Trustee shall be paid at      
              the following annual rates per $1,000 of principal amount       
              of Bonds:                                                       
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Virginia Traditional Trust              $1.5311                
         ( 2)  Colorado Insured Trust                  $1.5337                
         ( 3)  New Jersey Insured Trust                $1.5867                
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust              $1.5785                
                                                                              
         (b)  For services performed on or after the date indicated in        
              Item 5(c) of this Schedule A, the Trustee shall be paid at      
              the following annual rates per $1,000 of principal amount       
              of Bonds:                                                       
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Virginia Traditional Trust                                     
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.5311          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.2111          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.0211          
                                                                              
         ( 2)  Colorado Insured Trust                                         
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.5337          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.2137          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.0237          
                                                                              
         ( 3)  New Jersey Insured Trust                                       
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.5867          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.2667          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.0767          
                                                                              
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust                                     
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.5785          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.2585          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.0685          
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                            ADDITIONAL SCHEDULES                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                         BONDS INITIALLY DEPOSITED                            
                                                                              
                  NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 815                     
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
Incorporated herein and made a part hereof as indicated below are the         
following annual rates per $1,000 of principal amount of Bonds:               
corresponding portions of the 'Schedules of Investments at Date of Deposit'   
contained in the Prospectus dated the Date of Deposit and relating to the     
above-named Series:                                                           
                                                                              
         Schedule B:  Virginia Traditional Trust 302                          
         Schedule C:  Colorado Insured Trust 59                               
         Schedule D:  New Jersey Insured Trust 195                            
         Schedule E:  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200                          


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.1

(ON CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LETTERHEAD)

7/31/95


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

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815

Gentlemen:

    We have served as counsel for you, as depositor of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit
Trust, Series 815 (hereinafter referred to as the "Fund"), in connection
with the issuance under the Trust Indenture and Agreement dated the date 
hereof between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, as Depositor, and United 
States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee, of Units of fractional 
undivided interest in the one or more Trusts of said Fund (hereinafter 
referred to as the "Units").
 
    In connection therewith, we have examined such pertinent records and
documents and matters of law as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us
to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.

    Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

   1.   The execution and delivery of the Trust Indenture and Agreement and
the establishment of book entry positions and the execution and issuance of 
certificates evidencing the Units in the Trusts of the Fund have been duly 
authorized; and

    2.   The book entry positions and certificates positions evidencing the 
Units in the Trusts of the Fund when duly executed and delivered or duly 
established by the Depositor and the Trustee in accordance with the 
aforementioned Trust Indenture and Agreement, will constitute valid and 
binding obligations of such Trusts and the Depositor in accordance with the 
terms thereof.

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 33-61067) relating to the Units referred
to above and to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm in said
Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.

Respectfully submitted,



CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
   

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 4.4

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of 
our report and to all references to our Firm included in or made a
part of this Registration Statement.


ARTHUR ANDERSON L.L.P.

Chicago, Illinois
7/31/95



 
<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 4.2

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

7/31/95

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

Re:  Nuveen Tax Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815

Gentlemen:

     We have examined the registration statement File No. 33-61067
for the above-captioned trust.  We hereby acknowledge that
Kenny S&P Evaluation Services, a division of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc.
is currently acting as the evaluator for the trust. We hereby
consent to the use in the Registration Statement of the reference
to Kenny S&P Evaluation Services, a division of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc.
as evaluator.

     In addition, we hereby confirm that the ratings indicated in the
Registration Statement for the respective bonds comprising the trust
portfolio are the ratings currently indicated in our KENNYBASE database.

     You are hereby authorized to file a copy of this letter with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sincerely,


Frank A. Ciccotto


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 4.1

(ON STANDARD & POOR'S, A DIVISION OF THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES LETTERHEAD)

7/31/95

John Nuveen & Company
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

Re:     NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 815

        This is in response to your requests regarding the above-captioned
fund which consists of separate underlying insured and traditional unit
investment trusts, SEC file # 33-61067.

        INSURED TRUSTS.

        With respect to the insured trusts we have reviewed the information
presented to us and have assigned a 'AAA' rating to the units of each insured
trust and a 'AAA' rating to the securities contained in each insured trust.
The ratings are direct reflections of the portfolio of each insured trust,
which will be composed soley of securities covered by bond insurance policies
that insure against default in the payment of principal and interest on the
securities contained in each insured trust for as long as they remain
outstanding.  We understand that the bonds described in the prospectus are the
same as those in the attatched list.  Since such policies have been issued by
MBIA which has been assigned a 'AAA' claims paying ability rating by S&P, S&P
has assigned a 'AAA' to the units of each insured trust and a 'AAA' rating to
the securities contained in each trust.

        You have permission to use the name of Standard & Poor's, a Division of
The McGraw-Hill Companies and the above-assigned rating in connection with your
dissemination of information relating to the insured trusts provided that it is
understood that the ratings are not 'market' ratings nor recommendations to buy,
hold or sell the units of the insured trusts or the securities contained in the
insured trusts.  Further, it should be understood the rating on the units of
each insured trust does not take into account the extent to which the trust's
expenses or portfolio asset sales for less than the principal required to be
paid on the portfolio assets.  S&P reserves the right to advise its own clients,
subscribers, and the public of the ratings.  S&P relies on the sponsor and its
counsel, accountants, and other experts for the accuracy and completeness of the
information submitted in connection with the ratings.  S&P does not
independently verify the truth or accuracy of any such information.

        This letter evidences our consent to the use of the name of Standard &
Poor's, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies in connection with the rating
assigned to the units of each insured trust in the registration statement or
prospectus relating to the units and the trusts.  However, this letter should
not be construed as a consent by us, within the meaning of section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, to the use of Standard and Poor's, a Division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies in connection with the ratings assigned to the securities
contained in the insured trusts.  You are hereby authorized to file a copy of
this letter with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        Please be certain to send us three copies of your final prospectus as
soon as it becomes available.  Should we not receive them within a reasonable
time after the closing or should they not conform to certification received by
us, we reserve the right to nullify the ratings.


<PAGE>



        TRADITIONAL TRUSTS.

        With respect to the traditional unit investment trusts within the
above-captioned fund, we have reviewed the information presented to us and we
hereby confirm that the ratings indicated in the prospectus as being assigned
by Standard & Poor's, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies to the securities
contained in each traditional trust of such fund are, according to our records,
the ratings currently assigned by Standard & Poor's, a Division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies to such securities.  You understand that Standard
& Poor's, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies has not consented to, and will
not consent to, being named as "expert" under the federal securities laws,
including and without limitation, Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, with
respect to the ratings on any securities contained in any of the traditional
trusts.

        Please note that the 'AAA' rating assigned to the units of each
insured trust does not apply to the units of any of the traditional trusts.


                                         STANDARD & POOR'S, A DIVISION
                                         OF THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES
                                      
    
                                          Sanford Bragg



<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.2

(ON CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LETTERHEAD)

7/31/95

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

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815

Gentlemen:

    We have served as counsel for you, as Depositor of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit
Trust, Series 815 (the "Fund") in connection with the issuance under the
Trust Indenture and Agreement, dated the date hereof between John Nuveen & Co.
Incorporated, as Depositor, and United States Trust Company of New York, as
Trustee, of Units of fractional undivided interest (the "Units"), as evidenced
by a book entry position or certificate, if requested by the purchaser of 
Units, in the one or more Trusts of said Fund.

    We have also served as counsel for you in connection with all previous
Series of the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust and as such have previously 
examined such pertinent records and documents and matters of law as we have 
deemed necessary, including (but not limited to) the Trust Indenture and 
Agreements with respect to those series.  We have also examined such 
pertinent records and documents and matters of law as we have deemed 
necessary including (but not limited to) the Trust Indenture and Agreement 
relating to Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815.

    We have concluded that the Trust Indenture and Agreement for the Fund and
its counterpart in each of the prior issues of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust 
are in all material respects substantially identical.

    Based upon the foregoing, and upon such matters of law as we consider
to be applicable we are of the opinion that, under existing federal income
law:

    (i)  For Federal income tax purposes, each of the Trusts will not be
taxable as an association but will be governed by the provisions of 
Subchapter J (relating to Trusts) of Chapter 1, Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 (the "Code").

    (ii) Each Unitholder will be considered as owning a pro rata
share of each asset of the respective Trust of the Fund in the proportion
that the number of Units of such Trust held by him bears to the total number
of outstanding Units of such Trust. Under Subpart E, Subchapter J of Chapter
1 of the Code, income of each Trust will be treated as income of each
Unitholder thereof in the proportion described and an item of Fund income
will have the same character in the hands of a Unitholder as it would have in
the hands of the Trustee.  Accordingly, to the extent that the income of a
Trust consists of interest and original issue discount excludable from gross
income under Section 103 of the Code, such income will be excludable from
federal gross income of the Unitholder, except in the case of a Unitholder
who is a substantial user (or a person related to such user) of a facility
financed through issuance of any industrial development bonds or certain
private activity bonds held by the Trust. In the case of such Unitholder who
is a substantial user (and no other) interest received and original issue
discount with respect to his Units attributable to such industrial
development bonds or such private activity bonds is includable in his gross
income. In the case of certain corporations, interest on the Bonds is included
in computing the alternative minimum tax pursuant to Sections 56(f) and 56(g)
of the Code, the enviromental tax (the "Superfund Tax") imposed by Sections
59A of the Code, and the branch profits tax imposed by Section 884 of the Code
with repect to U.S. branches of foreign corporations.

    (iii) Gain or loss will be recognized to a Unitholder upon
redemption or sale of his Units.  Such gain or loss is measured by comparing 
the proceeds of such redemption or sale with the adjusted basis of such Units.
Before adjustment, such basis would normally be cost if the Unitholder had
acquired his Units by purchase, plus his aliquot share of advances by the
Trustee to the Trust to pay interest on Bonds delivered after the Unitholder's
settlement date to the extent that such interest accrued on the Bonds during
the period from the Unitholder's settlement date to the date such Bonds are
delivered to the Trust, but only to the extent that such advances are to be
repaid to the Trustee out of interest received by the Fund with respect to
such Bonds.  In addition, such basis will be increased by both the
Unitholder's aliquot share of the accrued original issued discount with
respect to each Bond held by the Trust with respect to which there was an
original issue discount and reduced by the annual amortization of bond
premium, if any, on Bonds held by the Trust.

<PAGE>

    (iv) If the Trustee disposes of a Trust asset (whether by sale, payment on
maturity, redemption or otherwise), gain or loss is recognized to the
Unitholder and the amount thereof is measured by comparing the
Unitholder's aliquot share of the total proceeds from the transaction
with his basis for his fractional interest in the asset disposed of.  Such 
basis is ascertained by apportioning the tax basis for his Units among each 
of the Trust assets (as of the date on which his Units were acquired) ratably 
according to their values as of the valuation date nearest the date on which 
he purchased such Units.  A Unitholder's basis in his Units and of his
fractional interest in each Trust asset must be reduced by the amount of his 
aliquot share of interest received by the Fund, if any, on Bonds delivered
after the Unitholder's settlement date to the extent that such
interest accrued on the Bonds during the period from the Unitholder's
settlement date to the date such Bonds are delivered to the Trust, must be 
reduced by the annual amortization of bond premium, if any, on Bonds held by 
the Trust and must be increased by the Unitholder's share of accrued
original issue discount with respect to each Bond which, at the time
the Bond was issued, had original issue discount.

     (v)  In the case of any Bond held by the Trust where the "stated
redemption price at maturity" exceeds the "issue price," such excess shall
be original issue discount.  With respect to each Unitholder, upon the
purchase of his Units subsequent to the original issuance of Bonds held by the
Trust Section 1272(a)(7) of the Code provides for a reduction in the accrued
"daily portion" of such original issue discount upon the purchase of a Bond
subsequent to the Bond's original issue, under certain circumstances.  In the
case of any Bond held by the Trust the interest on which is excludable from
gross income under Section 103 of the Code, any original issue discount which
accrues with respect thereto will be treated as interest which is excludable
from gross income under Section 103 of the Code.

    (vi)  In the case of any Bond which matures within one year of the date
issued, the accrual of tax-exempt original issue discount will generally be
computed daily on a ratable basis unless the Unitholder elects to accrue such
discount under a constant yield method, compounded daily.

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

    (viii)  In the case of Trusts for which MBIA Insurance Corporation ("MBIA")
insurance with respect to each of the Bonds deposited therein has been obtained 
by the Depositor or the issuer or underwriter of the Bonds, we have examined 
the form of MBIA's policy or several policies of insurance (the "Policies") 
which have been delivered to the Trustee.  Assuming issuance of Policies in such
form, in our opinion, any amounts paid under said Policies representing maturing
interest on defaulted obligations held by the Trustee will be excludable from 
Federal gross income if, and to the same extent as, such interest would have 
been so excludable if paid by the respective issuer, provided that, at the time 
such policies are purchased, the amounts paid for such policies are reasonable, 
customary and consistent with the reasonable expectation that the issuer of the 
bonds, rather than the insurer, will pay debt service on the bonds.  Paragraph 
(ii) of this opinion is accordingly applicable to Policy proceeds representing 
maturing interest.
<PAGE>

    Because the Trusts do not include any "specified private activity bonds"
within the meaning of Section 57(a)(5) of the Code issued on or after August
8, 1986, none of the Trust Fund's interest income shall be treated as an item
of tax preference when computing the alternative minimum tax.  In the case of
corporations, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986, the alter-
native minimum tax and the Superfund Tax depend upon the corporation's
alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI"), which is the corporation's
taxable income with certain adjustments.

    Pursuant to Section 56(c) of the Code, one of the adjustment
items used in computing AMTI and the Superfund Tax of a corporation
(other than an S Corporation, Regulated Investment Company, Real Estate
Investment Trust or REMIC) is an amount equal to 50% of the excess of such
corporation's "adjusted net book income" over an amount equal to its AMTI
(before such adjustment item and the alternative tax net operating
loss deduction).  For taxable years beginning after 1989, such adjustment item
will be 75% of the excess of such corporation's "adjusted current earnings"
over an amount equal to its AMTI (before such adjustment item and the
alternative tax net operating net operating loss deduction) pursuant to
Section 56(g) of the Code.  Both "adjusted net book income" and "adjusted
current earnings" include all tax-exempt interest, including interest on all
Bonds in the Trust, and tax-exempt original issue discount.

   Effective for tax returns filed after December 31, 1987,  all taxpayers
are required to disclose to the Internal Revenue Service the amount of
tax-exempt interest earned during the year.

    Section 265 of the Code generally provides for a reduction
in each taxable year of 100% of the otherwise deductible interest on
indebtedness incurred or continued by financial institutions, to which either 
Section 585 or Section 593 of the Code applies, to purchase or carry 
obligations acquired after August 7, 1986, the interest on which is exempt
from federal income taxes for such taxable year.  Under rules prescribed by 
Section 265, the amount of interest otherwise deductible by such financial
institutions in any taxable year which is deemed to be attributable to 
tax-exempt obligations acquired after August 7, 1986 will be the amount
that bears the same ratio to the interest deduction otherwise allowable
(determined without regard to Section 265) to the taxpayer for the taxable
year as the taxpayer's average adjusted basis (within the meaning of Section
1016) of tax-exempt obligations acquired after August 7, 1986, bears to
such average adjusted basis for all assets of the taxpayer, unless such 
financial institution can otherwise establish under regulations to be
prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the amount of interest on 
indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry such obligations.

<PAGE>

    We also call attention to the fact that, under Section 265 of the
Code,  interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry
Units by taxpayers other than certain financial institutions, as referred to
above, is not deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Under rules used by
the Internal Revenue Service for determining when borrowed funds are con-
sidered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the
purchase of Units may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even
though the borrowed funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of Units.
However, these rules generally do not apply to interest paid on indebtedness
incurred for expenditures of a personal nature such as a mortgage incurred to
purchase or improve a personal residence.

    "The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993" (the "Tax Act") subjects tax-exempt
bonds to the market discount rules of the Code effective for bonds purchased
after April 30, 1993.  In general, market discount is the amount (if any) by
which the stated redemption price at maturity exceeds an investor's purchase
price (except to the extent that such difference, if any, is attributable to
original issue discount not yet accrued) subject to a statutory de minimis rule.
Market discount can arise based on the price a Trust pays for Bonds or the price
a Unitholder pays for his or her Units.  Under the Tax Act, accretion of market
discount is taxable as ordinary income; under prior law, the accretion had been 
treated as capital gain.  Market discount that accretes while a Trust holds a 
Bond would be recognized as ordinary income by the Unitholders when principal 
payments are received on the Bond, upon sale or at redemption (including early 
redemption), or upon the sale or redemption of his or her Units, unless a 
Unitholder elects to include market discount in taxable income as it accrues.
     
    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 33-61067) relating to the Units referred
to above and to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm in said
Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.

Respectfully submitted,


CHAPMAN AND CUTLER


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3


(ON CHRISTIAN, BARTON, EPPS, BRENT & CHAPPELL LETTERHEAD)

7/31/95

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

Attn:  James J. Wesolowski, Esquire
       General Counsel


United States Trust Company of New York,
as Trustee of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust
Series 815,   
Virginia Traditional Trust 302
770 Broadway
New York, New York  10003

Gentlemen:

    We have acted as special Virginia counsel to Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust,
Series 815 (the "Fund") concerning a Registration Statement (No. 33-61067)
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement"),
covering the issuance by the Fund of units of fractional undivided
interest pursuant to a Trust Indenture and Agreement dated as of the date
hereof between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated and United States Trust Company
of New York.  The Fund will issue units in several State Trusts, one of which
is the Virginia Traditional Trust (the "Virginia Trust" or "Trust", the
units of which are referred to as "the Units").  The Units will be purchased
by various investors (the "Unitholders").  Each Trust will be administered as
a distinct entity with separate certificates, investments, expenses, books
and records.
    The assets of the Virginia Trust will consist of interest-bearing
obligations issued by or on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, its
counties, municipalities, authorities or political subdivisions, and, provided
the interest thereon is exempt from Virginia income taxes by the laws or
treaties of the United States, by or on behalf of United States territories
or possessions, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the
Northern Mariana Islands, and their political subdivisions and authorities
(the "Bonds").

    You have requested our opinion as to the application of Virginia state and
local taxes to the Trust and the Unitholders.  In rendering our
opinion, we have assumed that the interest on all Bonds in the Trust will be 
exempt from Federal income tax.  Furthermore, in rendering our opinion, we 
have relied on the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler, of even date 
herewith, that:
 
    (1)  the Trusts are not associations taxable as corporations for Federal
income tax purposes and 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 distributed to a Unitholder;

    (2)  each Unitholder of a Trust is considered to be the owner of a
pro rata portion of such Trust under Subpart E, sub-chapter J of Chapter 1 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and will have a taxable event when the Trust
disposes of a Bond or when the Unitholder redeems or sells Units . . . .
If the Trustee disposes of Bonds (whether by sale, payment on 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.
 
    Based upon the foregoing, we are of the following opinion:

    The Trust will be treated as a trust for Virginia income tax purposes and
not as an association taxable as a corporation.  As a result, income of the
Trust will be treated as the income of the Unitholders.

<PAGE>

    The calculation of Virginia taxable income begins with federal adjusted
gross income in the case of an individual or federal taxable income in the 
case of a corporation, estate or trust.  Certain modifications are specified, 
but no such modification would require the addition of interest on the Bonds.
Accordingly, amounts representing tax-exempt interest for federal income tax
purposes received or accrued by the Trust with respect to the Bonds, will not 
be taxed to the Trust or to the Unitholders for Virginia income tax
purposes.  To the extent that interest on obligations of the Commonwealth or
any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof is included in federal
adjusted gross income, Virginia law provides that the income shall be 
subtracted in arriving at Virginia taxable income.  In addition, Virginia 
income tax exemption is independently provided for interest on certain 
obligations, including those issued by industrial development authorities 
created pursuant to the Virginia Industrial Development and Revenue Bond Act, 
by the Virginia Housing Development Authority, by the Virginia Resources 
Authority and by the Virginia Education Loan Authority.  Where such an 
independent exemption is provided, interest on such obligations is exempt 
from Virginia income taxation without regard to any exemption from federal 
income taxes.


    As a general rule, to the extent that gain (whether as a result of the
sale of Bonds by the Trust or as a result of the sale of a Unit by the
Unitholder) is subject to federal income taxation, such gain will be
included in the Unitholder's Virginia taxable income.  Under the
language of certain enabling legislation, however, such as the Virginia 
Industrial Development and Revenue Bond Act, the Virginia Resources Authority
Act and the Virginia Housing Development Authority Act, profit made on the
sale of obligations issued by authorities created thereunder is expressly
exempt from Virginia income taxation.  Such enabling legislation does not
appear to require a disallowance in the calculation of Virginia taxes of any
loss that may be deductible for federal income tax purposes with respect to
such obligations, although the Virginia Department of Taxation has taken a
contrary view. 

    No income tax is imposed by any political subdivision of the Commonwealth 
of Virginia.  The Commonwealth of Virginia does not impose a gift tax.  The 
Virginia estate tax is equal to the maximum state death tax credit allowable 
against the federal estate tax payable by the estate.

    We have not examined any of the Bonds, nor have we made any review of the
proceedings relating to the issuance of the Bonds or the basis for any 
opinions with respect to their validity or the tax-exempt status thereof for 
federal income tax purposes.  We have made no independent investigation as 
to, or passed on, the operation of the Trust or the sale of the Units in 
Virginia or in any other state.  No opinion was requested, nor is any opinion 
expressed, with respect to any tax consequences to the sponsor of the Trust, 
any underwriters, or any broker-dealers.

    We should point out that to the extent the Trust consists of property of
persons domiciled in Virginia, the Trust will in our opinion be considered a
"resident trust" for Virginia income tax purposes.  While we do not believe 
that the mere ownership by the Trust of the Bonds constitutes sufficient 
nexus to subject the Trust to the tax jurisdiction of Virginia, we express no 
opinion as to whether any activities with respect to the sale of Units in 
Virginia may establish such a nexus.  If a sufficient nexus exists, then if 
the Trust is required to file a federal fiduciary income tax return it will 
also be required to file a Virginia fiduciary income tax return.  Any such 
return would be for information purposes only, since each transaction of the 
Trust should be treated as a transaction of the several Unitholders,
and not as a transaction of the Trust that could give rise to Virginia
taxable income of the Trust.
 
    We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the use of our name and the reference to our firm in the
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein.

Very truly yours,


CHRISTIAN, BARTON, EPPS, BRENT & CHAPPELL


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3


(ON SHERMAN & HOWARD L.L.C. LETTERHEAD)

7/31/95


Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust,
Series 815
c/o United States Trust Company of
New York, Trustee
770 Broadway
New York, New York  10003

RE:  
    Colorado Insured Trust 59

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    We have acted as special counsel to the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, 
Series 815 (the "Fund") with respect to certain applications of the
income tax law of the State of Colorado to the above captioned Trust(s)
created as part of the Fund (the "Colorado Trust(s)") and to the holders of
certificates or registered holders of book entry positions evidencing
ownership of fractional undivided interest ("Units") in the Colorado Trust(s)
who are residents of the State of Colorado ("Colorado Unitholders").

    In this connection, we have examined the form of an opinion of Chapman and
Cutler, counsel for John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Depositor, to be dated
today, as to the federal tax status of the several constituent trusts of the
Fund and the holders of Units, including the Colorado Trust(s) and the
Colorado Unitholders. Chapman and Cutler has advised us that its opinion, as
executed and delivered, will be in all material respects identical to such
form.  We have also examined such pertinent materials and matters of law as
we deemed necessary in order to enable us to express the opinions hereinafter
set forth.

    It is our understanding that a Colorado Trust will consist of
obligations which were issued by the State of Colorado or its political
subdivisions or by the United States or possessions of the United States,
including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam ("Bonds").  The following
opinion assumes that the Colorado Trust(s) will have no income other than
(i) interest income on the Bonds, (ii) insurance proceeds, if any, referred
to in paragraph (3) below, and (iii) gain on the disposition of such Bonds.

    Based on the foregoing and, with your permission, in reliance upon the
opinion of Chapman and Cutler referred to above, it is our opinion that
application of existing Colorado income tax law would be as follows:

    The Chapman and Cutler opinion concludes that each trust, including the
Colorado Trust(s), will be governed by the provisions  of subchapter J of
chapter 1, Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code").  Although there are no
Colorado income tax statutes similar to subchapter J of chapter 1 of the Code,
the Colorado statutory provisions generally operate to reach the same result
that is reached under the federal system.  The income, deduction, and credit
items directly reportable by the "owner" of a trust under the federal rules
are also directly reportable by that same person under Colorado rules.
Conversely, items of income, deduction, and credit not reportable for federal
purposes typically are not reported for Colorado purposes.  For resident
individuals, estates, and trusts, Colorado law imposes a tax on federal
taxable income, as defined in the Code, with specific modifications. For
corporations, a tax is imposed on net income derived from sources within
Colorado.  A corporation's net income is defined as federal taxable income,
again with certain modifications. There are two modifications relevent to
this opinion. First, interest income less amortization of premium on
obligations of any state or any politcal subdivision thereof must be added
to federal taxable income; however, interest income on obligations of the
State of Colorado or a political subdivision thereof which are issued on or
after May 1, 1980 is specifically excluded from this modification.  Interest
income on obligations of the State of Colorado or a political subdivision
thereof which were issued before May 1, 1980 is also excluded from this
modification to the extent that such interest is specifically exempt from
income taxation under the laws of the State of Colorado authorizing the
issuance of such obligations.  The second relevent modification is that
interest income on obligations of the United States and its possessions is
subtracted from federal taxable income to the extent it was included in
federal taxable income.

    Colorado also imposes on individuals, estates, and trusts an alternative
minimum tax based on the federal alternative minimum taxable income determined
pursuant to Section 55 of the Code.  As with the modifications to federal
taxable income pertaining to interest income on Colorado exempt obligations,
interest income on obligations of the State of Colorado and political
sudivisions thereof which are issued on or after May 1, 1980, or which were
issued prior to May 1, 1980 but have interest specifically exempt from income
taxation under the Colorado laws authorizing the issuance of such obligations,
is not included in the modification that otherwise requires that interest
income from obligations of states or political subdivisions thereof be added
to federal alternative minimum taxable income.  Furthermore, interest income
on obligations of the United States and its possessions is subtracted from
federal alternative minimum taxable income.

    Because Colorado income tax law is based upon the federal law and in light
of the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, the Colorado Trust(s) will not be
association(s) taxable as  corporation(s) for purposes of Colorado income
taxation.

<PAGE>

    With respect to Colorado Unitholders, in view of the relationship
between federal and Colorado tax computations described above and the opinion 
of Chapman and Cutler referred to above:

    1.   Each Colorado Unitholder will be treated as owning a share of
         each asset of the Colorado Unitholder's respective Colorado Trust for
         Colorado income tax purposes, in the proportion that the number of
         Units of such Colorado Trust held by the Unitholder bears to the
         total number of outstanding Units of the Colorado Trust, and the
         income of the Colorado Trust will therefore be treated as the income
         of each Colorado Unitholder under Colorado law in the proportion
         described;

    2.   Interest on Bonds that would not be included in the base subject to
         Colorado income tax or Colorado alternative minimum tax when paid
         directly to a Colorado Unitholder will not be included in the base
         subject to Colorado income tax or alternative minimum tax when
         received by a Colorado Trust and attributed to such Colorado
         Unitholder and when distributed to such Colorado Unitholder;

    3.   Proceeds paid under an insurance policy, if any, issued to the issuer
         of the Bonds involved, to the Depositor prior to deposit of the Bonds
         in a Colorado Trust, or to a Colorado Trust, which proceeds
         represent maturing interest on defaulted Bonds and which proceeds
         would not be included in the base subject to Colorado income tax or
         Colorado alternative minimum tax when paid directly to a Colorado
         Unitholder will not be included in the base subject to Colorado
         income and alternative minimum tax when received by a Colorado
         Trust and attributed to such Colorado Unitholder and when
         distributed to such Colorado Unitholder;

    4.   Each Colorado Unitholder will realize gain or loss taxable
         in Colorado when the Colorado Unitholder's respective Colorado
         Trust disposes of a Bond (whether by sale, exchange, redemption,
         or payment at maturity) or when the Colorado Unitholder redeems or
         sells Units at a price that differs from original cost as adjusted
         for amortization of bond discount or premium and other basis
         adjustments (including any basis reduction that may be required to
         reflect a Colorado Unitholder's share of interest, if any, accruing
         on Bonds during the interval between the Colorado Unitholder's
         settlement date and the date such Bonds are delivered to the Colorado
         Trust, if later);

    5.   Tax cost reduction requirements relating to amortization of bond
         premium may, under some circumstances, result in Colorado
         Unitholders realizing gain taxable in Colorado when their
         Units are sold or redeemed for an amount equal to or less than their
         original cost; and
 
    6.   If interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a Colorado
         Unitholder to purchase Units in the Colorado Trust is not
         deductible for federal income tax purposes, it will not be
         deductible for Colorado income tax purposes.


    We have not examined any of the Bonds to be deposited in the Colorado
Trusts(s) and express no opinion as to whether the interest (or, if appli-
cable, insurance proceeds representing interest) on any such Bonds would in
fact be included in the base subject to Colorado income tax or Colorado
alternative minimum tax if directly received by a Colorado Unitholder.

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 33-61067) relating to the Units referred
to above and to the use of our name and the reference to our firm in such
Registration Statement, and in the related Prospectus, under the "Tax Status"
heading for each Colorado Trust in the Fund.  In addition, we authorize United
States Trust Company of ew York to rely upon this opinion in its capacity
as Trustee of the Fund.

Very truly yours,


SHERMAN & HOWARD L.L.C.

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3

(ON PITNEY, HARDIN, KIPP & SZUCH LETTERHEAD)

7/31/95

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

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815
      
     New Jersey Insured Trust 195

Gentlemen:

    We have acted as special counsel, with respect to New Jersey state tax
matters, to Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815 (the "Fund")
concerning a Registration Statement (No. 33-61067) on Form S-6 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the issuance by the Fund of units
of fractional undivided interest (the "Units") in several state trusts (the
"State Trusts"), one of which is the above-captioned trust ("New
Jersey Trust").  Such Units will be purchased by various investors
("Unitholders").

     The Fund is organized under a Trust Indenture and Agreement (the
"Indenture") of even date herewith between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated (the
"Depositor") and United States Trust Company of New York (the "Trustee").
Each Unit of the New Jersey Trust represents a fractional undivided interest
in the principal and net income of the New Jersey Trust in the ratio of ten
Units for each one thousand dollars ($1,000) of principal amount of the
obligations initially acquired by the New Jersey Trust.  The New Jersey Trust
will be administered as a distinct entity with separate certificates,
investments, expenses, books and records.

    In acting as special counsel, we have examined such documents and records
with respect to the immediately preceding series of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit
Trust - Series which included a State Trust consisting primarily of Bonds
(herein defined) (the "Prior Series") as we deem necessary, including, but not
limited to, the Trust Indenture and Agreement (the "Prior Series Indenture")
and the Prospectus.  You have advised that the Indenture is identical in all
material respects to the Prior Series Indenture.  You have also advised that
the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler with respect to the Federal income
tax status of the Fund, its constituent State Trusts and its Unitholders is
in all material respects identical to the opinion issued by Messrs. Chapman
and Cutler for the Prior Series.

    We note that the assets of the New Jersey Trust will consist of
interest-bearing obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of New
Jersey, and counties, municipalities, authorities and other political
subdivisions thereof, and certain territories of the United States including
Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands (the
"Bonds").  Distributions of the interest received by the New Jersey Trust will
be made to each Unitholder semi-annually unless the Unitholder elects to
receive such distributions on a monthly or quarterly basis.  In the
opinion of bond counsel to each issuer, the interest on all Bonds in the New
Jersey Trust is exempt from Federal income tax under existing law.

    We understand that on this date (the "Date of Deposit") the Depositor has
deposited with the Trustee the total principal amount of interest-bearing
obligations and/or contracts for the purchase thereof together with an
irrevocable letter of credit in the amount required for the purchase price and
accrued interest, if any, and an insurance policy or policies purchased by the
Depositor and issued by the Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation
(the "Insurer") evidencing the insurance guaranteeing the timely payment of
principal and interest of some of the obligations comprising the corpus of the
Fund, as more fully set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus.  All other
obligations included in the deposit described above will be covered by
insurance obtained by the issuer of such obligations from the Insurer
guaranteeing timely payment of principal and interest.  Such insurance will
provide that the amount paid by the Insurer in respect of any Bond may
not exceed the amount of principal and interest due on the Bond and such
payment will in no event relieve the issuer from its continuing obligation
to pay such defaulted principal and interest in accordance with the terms of
the obligation.

    Section 2.04 of the Indenture provides that each State Trust is a separate
and distinct trust for all purposes, the assets of one State Trust may not be
commingled with the assets of any other State Trust, and that the expenses of
one State Trust shall not be charged against any other State Trust.  Section
2.04 further provides that the certificates representing the ownership of an
undivided fractional interest in one State Trust shall not be exchangeable for
certificates representing the ownership of an undivided fractional interest in
any other State Trust.

<PAGE>

     The Indenture provides further, among other things, that the Trustee
shall:

    A.  Collect all interest and monies payable to the New Jersey Trust, and
hold the funds collected in trust on behalf of the Unitholders of the
New Jersey Trust;

    B.  Set aside from such funds any amounts necessary for the reimbursement
of advances and for the payment of expenses, taxes and governmental charges in
respect of the New Jersey Trust;

    C.  Distribute all remaining amounts semi-annually, or monthly or
quarterly if so elected by a Unitholder, to the Unitholders in proportion
to their interest in the New Jersey Trust;

    D.  Redeem any certificates tendered for redemption by a Unitholder
provided that the Trustee has notified the Depositor of the tender and the
Depositor has failed to indicate within a time specified in the Indenture that
it will purchase the tendered certificates from the tendering Unitholder;

    E.  Sell or liquidate any or all Bonds at the sole direction of the
Depositor and at such price and time and in such manner as shall be determined
by the Depositor, provided that the Depositor has determined that any one or
more of certain conditions specified in the Indenture exists;

    F.  In connection with an offer made by an obligor of any of the Bonds to
issue new obligations, in exchange and substitution for any issue of Bonds
pursuant to a plan for the refunding or refinancing of such Bonds, pursuant to
the sole instruction of the Depositor in writing, reject such offer and either
hold or sell such Bonds, or accept or reject such offer or to take any other
action with respect thereto as the Depositor may deem proper; and

    G.  At the direction of the Depositor, acquire Replacement Bonds, as
defined in the Prospectus, to make up the original corpus of the New Jersey
Trust in the event of a failure to deliver any Bond that has been purchased
for the New Jersey Trust under a contract, including those Bonds purchased on
a "when, as and if issued" basis.

    The Trustee has no power of sale except (a) on order of the Depositor as
stated herein, (b) to provide funds, not otherwise available, to pay taxes,
charges, expenses, fees or indemnities, (c) in case of default on any of the
Bonds, but only after notification of the Depositor, and provided that the
Depositor has not, within 30 days of such notification, given any instructions
to sell or to hold, or has not taken any other action in connection with, such
Bonds, or (d) for the purpose of redeeming certificates tendered by any
Unitholder.  The Trustee has no  power to reinvest, except as stated in
Section 3.08 of the Indenture.  Such limited power of reinvestment is in
furtherance of the Trustee's obligation to protect the trust assets, and does
not constitute power to vary investments.

    The Indenture provides further, among other things, that the Unitholders:

    A.  May tender their certificate or certificates to the Trustee for
redemption except in limited circumstances;

    B.  Will not have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the
operation and management of the Fund, the New Jersey Trust, or the obligations
of the Depositor or Trustee;

    C.  May elect to receive distributions from the New Jersey Trust on a
monthly or quarterly basis;

    D.  May terminate the New Jersey Trust at any time by written consent of
100% of the Unitholders of the New Jersey Trust; and

    E.  Shall be under no liability to any third persons by reason of any
action taken by the Depositor or Trustee or any other Unitholder, or any
other cause whatsoever.

<PAGE>

    You have advised that, in the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler, for
Federal income tax purposes the Fund and New Jersey Trust will not be taxable
as a corporation or association but will be governed by the provisions of
Subchapter J (relating to trusts) of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.  Each Unitholder will be considered the owner of a
pro rata portion of the New Jersey Trust and will be subject to tax on the
income therefrom under the provisions of Subpart E of Subchapter J of
Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The New Jersey
Trust itself will not be subject to Federal income taxes.  For Federal income
tax purposes, each item of trust income will have the same character in the
hands of the Unitholder as it would have in the hands of the Trustee.
Accordingly, to the extent that the income of the New Jersey Trust consists
of interest excludable from gross income under Section 103 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such income will be excludable from Federal
gross income of the Unitholder.  Furthermore, any proceeds paid under
the insurance policy or policies issued to the Trustee of the Fund with re-
spect to each Bond which represent maturing interest on defaulted obligations
held by the Trustee will be excludable from Federal gross income if, and to
the same extent as, such interest would have been so excludable if paid by the
issuer of the defaulted obligations and the excludability from Federal
gross income of interest on Bonds which may be insured by  policies issued
directly to the respective Bond issuers will not be affected if the source
of any interest payment is from policy proceeds.

    Based on our examination of the Prior Series Indenture, your advice that
the  Indenture is identical in all material respects to the Prior Series
Indenture, your advice that the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler with
respect to the Federal income tax status of the Fund, its constituent State
Trusts and its Unitholders dated as of the date hereof is identical in all
material respects to its counterpart in the Prior Series, and, with respect
to Federal income tax matters, with your approval, relying solely upon the
opinion of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler, and our examination of such other
documents, records and matters of law as we deem necessary, we are of the
opinion that for New Jersey state and local tax purposes:

    1.  The New Jersey Trust will be recognized as a trust and not an
association taxable as a corporation.  The New Jersey Trust will not be
subject to the New Jersey Corporation Business Tax or the New Jersey
Corporation Income Tax.

    2.  With respect to the non-corporate Unitholders who are residents
of New Jersey, the income of the New Jersey Trust which is allocable to each
such Unitholder will be treated as the income of such Unitholder
under the New Jersey Gross Income Tax.  Interest on the underlying Bonds which
would be exempt from New Jersey Gross Income Tax if directly received by such
Unitholder will retain its status as tax-exempt interest when received
by the New Jersey Trust and distributed to such Unitholder.  Any
proceeds paid under the insurance policy or policies issued to the Trustee of
the Fund with respect to each Bond or under individual policies obtained by
issuers of Bonds which represent maturing interest on defaulted obligations
held by the Trustee will be exempt from New Jersey Gross Income Tax if, and to
the same extent as, such interest would have been so exempt if paid by the
issuer of the defaulted obligations.

    3.  A non-corporate Unitholder will not be subject to the New
Jersey Gross Income Tax on any gain realized either when the New Jersey Trust
disposes of a Bond (whether by sale, exchange, redemption, or payment at
maturity), when the Unitholder redeems or sells his Units, or upon
payment of any proceeds under the insurance policy or policies issued to
the Trustee of the Fund with respect to each Bond or under individual policies
obtained by issuers of Bonds which represent maturing principal on defaulted
obligations held by the Trustee.  Any loss realized on such disposition may
not be utilized to offset gains realized by such Unitholder on the
disposition of assets the gain on which is subject to the New Jersey Gross
Income Tax.

    4.  Units of the New Jersey Trust may be taxable on the death of a
Unitholder under the New Jersey Transfer Inheritance Tax Law or the New
Jersey Estate Tax Law.

    5.  If a Unitholder is a corporation subject to the New Jersey
Corporation Business Tax or New Jersey Corporation Income Tax, interest from
the Bonds in the New Jersey Trust which is allocable to such corporation will
be includable in its entire net income for purposes of the New Jersey
Corporation Business Tax or New Jersey Corporation Income Tax, less any
interest expense incurred to carry such investment to the extent such interest
expense has not been deducted in computing Federal taxable income.  Net gains
derived by such corporation on the disposition of the Bonds by the New Jersey
Trust or on the disposition of its Units will be included in its entire net
income for purposes of the New Jersey Corporation Business Tax or New Jersey
Corporation Income Tax.  Any proceeds paid under the insurance policy or
policies issued to the Trustee of the Fund with respect to each Bond or
under individual policies obtained by issuers of Bonds which represent
maturing interest or maturing principal on defaulted obligations held by the
Trustee will be included in its entire net income for purposes of the New
Jersey Corporation Business Tax or New Jersey Corporation Income Tax if, and
to the same extent as, such interest or proceeds would have been so included
if paid by the issuer of the defaulted obligations.

<PAGE>

    We have not examined any of the obligations to be deposited in the Fund,
and express no opinion as to whether the interest on any such obligations
would in fact be tax-exempt if directly received by a Unitholder; nor
have we made any review of the proceedings relating to the issuance of Bonds
or the basis for bond counsel opinions.

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm and a summary of
this opinion included in such Registration Statement and the Prospectus
included therein.  In giving such consent we do not thereby admit that we
are in the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.

     Except as indicated in the immediately preceding paragraph hereof and
except with our prior written consent, this opinion may not be quoted in
whole or in part or otherwise referred to in any document or instrument
or be furnished to or relied upon by any person other than the addressee
and United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee (including any
successor trustee).

Very truly yours,



Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3


(On Dechert Price & Rhoads Letterhead)

7/31/95


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

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815
      
     Pennsylvania Insured Trust 200

Gentlemen:

    You have requested our opinion as to the Pennsylvania tax aspects of the
above-captioned Trust(s) (the "Pennsylvania Trust(s)") which is (are) a part
of the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust Series 815 ("Fund").  The Fund is
organized under the Trust Indenture and Agreement, of even date, between John
Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, as Depositor, and United States Trust Company of
New York, as Trustee.  The Fund will contain several trusts, including the
Pennsylvania Trust(s), which will issue Units of fractional undivided
interests.  The Units will be purchased by various investors ("Unit Holder").
Each Unit of the Pennsylvania Trust(s) represents a fractional undivided
interest in the principal and net income of such Trust(s) in the ratio of ten
Units for each $1,000 of value of the obligations initially acquired by such
Trust(s).  Each Pennsylvania Trust will be administered as a distinct entity
with separate certificates, investments, expenses, books and records.
 
    The proceeds of the sale of the Units will be invested primarily in
interest-bearing obligations issued by or on behalf of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, its agencies and instrumentalities, or political subdivisions
thereof, including any county, city, borough, town, township, school disrict,
municipality, and local housing or parking authority in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania or issued by Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam or the
Northern Mariana Islands ("Bonds").  Distributions of the interest received by
the Trust will be made semi-annually unless the Unit Holder elects otherwise.
In the opinion of bond counsel to each issuer, the interest on all bonds in
the Trust is exempt fromn federal income tax under existing law.

    You have advised us that for federal income tax purposes each Pennsylvania
Trust will not be taxable as an association but will be governed by the
provisions of Subchapter J (relating to Trusts) of Chapter 1 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.  Each Unit Holder will be considered the owner of a pro
rata portion of the Unit Holder's respective Pennsylvania Trust and will be
subject to tax on the income therefrom under the provisions of Subpart E of
Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. A Pennsylvania
Trust itself will not be subject to federal income taxes. For federal income
tax purposes, each item of trust income will have the same character in the
hands of a Unit Holder as it would have in the hands of the Trustee.
Accordingly, to the extent that the income of a Pennsylvania Trust consists of
interest excludable from gross income under Section 103 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, such income will be excludable from federal gross income
of the Unit Holder.

    Based upon the above facts, it is our opinion that for Pennsylvania state
and local tax purposes, a Pennsylvania Trust will be recognized as a trust not
taxable as a corporation.  It will, therefore, not be subject to the 
Pennsylvania Capital Stock/Franchise Tax or the Pennsylvania Corporate Net
Income Tax.  Since all of the income of a Trust is either itself income exempt
from Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax, as described below, or is required by 
the terms of the Trust to be distributed to the holders of Units, a Trust 
should not be subject to Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax.  The Philadelphia
School District Investment Income Tax described below, is not imposed on 
trusts.

    Various personal property taxes are in effect in Pennsylvania, however, 
each of them exempts, inter alia, Bonds, cash, checking and savings accounts 
in and certificates of deposit issued by commercial banks, savings 
institutions or trust companies and United States Treasury obligations.  In
general, these taxes apply to a specified list of items of intangible 
personal property including, inter alia, mortgages and other evidences of
indebtedness and shares of stock issued by business corporations not doing
business in Pennsylvania.  The taxes referred to above include the County 
Personal Property Tax imposed on residents of Pennsylvania by the Act of 
June 17, 1913, P.L. 507, as amended, the additional personal property taxes 
imposed on Pittsburgh residents by the School District of Pittsburgh under 
the Act of June 20, 1947, P.L. 733, as amended, and by the City of Pittsburgh 
by Ordinance No. 599 of December 28, 1967, under the Act of December 31, 1965,
P.L. 1257, and any additional personal property taxes that the School District
of Philadelphia may reimpose on Philadelphia residents under the authority 
contained in the Act of May 23, 1949, P.L. 1676, as amended.  Units evidencing 
fractional undivided interests in a Pennsylvania Trust will not be subject to 
any of these personal property taxes to the extent of that proportion of a 
Pennsylvania Trust represented by Bonds and other exempt assets. Only that 
proportion of the Units represented by taxable assets will be subject to the 
personal property taxes.  Pennsylvania Trust Units may be taxable under the 
Pennsylvania inheritance and estate taxes.
 
    The interest and gain from obligations issued by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania or by its political subdivisions or by any public authority of
either are exempt from tax under the Act of August 31, 1971, P.L. 395, 
Act No. 94.  However, that Act was repealed by the Act of December 3, 1993,
P.L. 473, Act No. 68 ("Act 68 of 1993") with respect to obligations issued
on or after February 1, 1994.  Pursuant to Act 68 of 1993, profits, gains or
income derived from the sale, exchange or other disposition of exempt 
government obligations issued after February 1, 1994 will be subject to
state or local taxation although interest and "income" derived from the
exempt obligations will continue to be exempt from all state and local 
taxation.  Therefore, the proportion of income representing interest from 
Bonds distributable to Unit Holders is not taxable under the Pennsylvania
Personal Income Tax imposed by Article III of the Pennsylvania "Tax Reform
Code of 1971", as amended by the Act of August 31, 1971, P.L. 362, Act No. 93,
or under the Corporate Net Income Tax imposed on corporations by Article IV of
the Tax Reform Code.  Similarly, such interest will not be taxable under the 
Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax imposed on

<PAGE>

Philadelphia resident individuals under the authority of the Act of August 9,
1963, P.L. 640, as implemented by Section 19-1804 of the Philadelphia Code,
as amended, and resolutions of the Board of Education of the School District
of Philadelphia made pursuant to the ordinances, and such interest will not be
subject to any of the taxes on net income from business activities in 
Philadelphia under Philadelphia Code Sections 19-1500 and 19-2600, imposing
a Net Profits Tax and a Business Privilege Tax respectively.  The City and
School District of Pittsburgh do not impose any taxes on unearned income.
 
    Under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Law, personal income tax is
imposed upon the following specified classes of income:  (1) compensation for
services, (2) net profits from the operation of a business, profession, or 
other activity, (3) net gains or income from the disposition of property, (4) 
net gains or income in the form of rents and royalties, (5) dividends, (6) 
interest from obligations not otherwise exempt, (7) gambling and lottery
winnings, (8) net gains or income from estates or trusts which fall under any 
of the preceding classifications.  Although there is no published authority
on the question, it is our opinion that any insurance proceeds paid in lieu of
interest on defaulted tax-exempt obligations will be exempt from Pennsylvania 
Personal Income Tax either as payment in lieu of tax-exempt interest or as 
payments of insurance proceeds which are not included in any of the classes 
of income specified as taxable under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax 
Law.  Since Pennsylvania Corporate Net Income Tax is imposed upon the 
corporation's net income for federal income tax purposes, because such
insurance proceeds will be excluded from the federal income tax base, such
proceeds will not be subject to the Pennsylvania Corporate Net Income Tax.
Finally, since proceeds from insurance policies are expressly excluded from
the Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax, insurance proceeds
paid to replace defaulted payments under any Bonds held by the Pennsylvania
Trust(s) will not be subject to this tax.

    Under Act 68 of 1993, a Unit Holder's share of gain upon disposition of a 
Bond issued on or after February 1, 1994 by the Pennsylvania Trust, whether 
by sale, exchange, redemption or payment at maturity, will be taxable 
under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax.  Gains on the disposition of Bonds
issued before February 1, 1994 will continue to be exempt.  See 72 P.S. Section
7303(a)(3) and 61 Pa. Code Section. 121.9(b)(3).  While there is no published 
authority with respect to the treatment of such gains for purposes of the 
Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax, it is our opinion that
gains upon dispositions of Bonds issued before February 1, 1994 are exempt from 
this tax under Act of August 31, 1971, P.L. 395, Act No. 94, and, if the 
question were litigated, the Pennsylvania courts should so hold.  Gains on the 
disposition of Bonds issued on or after February 1, 1994 will be taxable.  
In any event, the Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax has no
application to any gain on the disposition of property held for more than
six months. 

    In C.C. Collings & Co., Inc. v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 514 A.2d 1373
(1986), and two related cases, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held that 
gains or losses from the sale of obligations of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, its political subdivisions, instrumentalities and agencies are 
not subject to the Corporate Net Income Tax.  Profits, gains or income
derived from the sale, exchange or other disposition of those exempt 
obligations issued on or after February 1, 1994, however, will be subject
to tax pursuant to Act 68 of 1993.  

    There is no published authority under any of the Pennsylvania state and
local income taxes described above with respect to gain from the redemption
or sale of a Unit.  To the extent that such gain represents the
Unit Holder's share of any unrealized gain on the Bonds issued before 
February 1, 1994 and held by the Trust, it is our opinion that such gain is 
exempt from the above-described Pennsylvania state and local income taxes and, 
if the question were litigated, the Pennsylvania courts should so hold.  To the
extent that such gain is attributable to unrealized gain on Bonds issued on 
or after February 1, 1994, such gain will be taxable under such taxes.  In any
event, the Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax has no 
application to any gain on the disposition of property held for more than six 
months.
 
    Interest on obligations of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, or the
Northern Mariana Islands is, under federal law, exempt from taxation by states
and municipalities.  Federal law does not expressly exclude from taxation gain
realized upon the disposition of such obligations.  Therefore, a disposition
of such obligations by a Pennsylvania Trust could be a taxable event to a
Holder under each of the Pennsylvania state and local income taxes discussed
in the preceding paragraphs.  See Willcuts v. Bunn, 282 U.S. 216 (1931); U.S.
v. Stewart, 311 U.S. 60 (1940).  Similarly, to the extent that gain on the
redemption or sale of a Unit represents unrealized gain on such obligations
held by a Pennsylvania Trust, such gain could be taxable. 

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (No. 33-61067) relating to the Units referred to
above, and to the reference to our firm as special Pennsylvania tax counsel in
said Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.

Very truly yours,


DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS


<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 4.3

(ON CARTER LEDYARD & MILBURN LETTERHEAD)

7/31/95


Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815
c/o John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated,
as Depositor of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit
Trust, Series 815
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815

Dear Sirs:

    We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "What is
the Tax Status of Unitholders?" in the Registration Statement and
related Prospectus of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815 for the
registration of units of fractional undivided interest in the Fund in the 
aggregate principal amount as set forth in the Closing Memorandum dated 
today's date.
 
Very truly yours,


CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
 
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Virginia
Traditional  Trust 302  which is incorporated  in the Prospectus  dated July 31,
1995 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                              June-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                   June-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,299,773
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,313,980
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        59,666
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,379,246
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            59,666
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  59,666
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,313,980
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 94.69
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

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

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Colorado
Insured Trust 59 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated July 31, 1995 and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                              June-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                   June-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,282,388
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,297,357
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        40,376
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,342,833
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            40,376
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  40,376
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,297,357
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 94.21
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

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

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains summary  financial information  extracted from  the New
Jersey Insured Trust 195 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated July  31,
1995 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                              June-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                   June-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,330,596
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,344,382
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        30,968
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,380,550
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            30,968
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  30,968
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,344,382
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 95.55
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

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

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This   schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from  the
Pennsylvania Insured Trust  200 which  is incorporated in  the Prospectus  dated
July   31,  1995  and  is  qualified  in  its  entirety  by  reference  to  such
prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                              June-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                   June-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,312,597
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,326,465
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        45,344
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,377,109
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            45,344
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  45,344
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,326,465
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 95.04
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>


<PAGE>

                                   MEMORANDUM

                 Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 815
                               File No. 33-61067


    The Prospectus and the Indenture filed with Amendment No. 1 of the
Registration Statement on Form S-6 have been revised to reflect information
regarding the execution of the Indenture and the deposit of bonds on 7/31/95,
and to set forth certain statistical data based thereon.  In addition, there 
are a number of other changes from the Prospectus as originally filed to which
reference is made, including the increase in the size of the Fund, a
corresponding increase in the number of Units and a change in the individual
trusts constituting the Fund.  All references to the Units, prices and related
statistical data will apply to each trust of the Fund and the Units thereof
individually.

    Except for such updating, an effort has been made to set forth below each 
of the changes and also to reflect the same by marking the Prospectus 
transmitted with the Amendment.  Also, differences between the Final 
Prospectus relating to the previous series of the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit 
Trust and the subject Prospectus have been indicated.

                                    FORM S-6

    FACING SHEET.  The file number is now shown.

                                 THE PROSPECTUS

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

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

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

     PAGE 8 et seq. The following information for each Trust appears on the
pages relating to such trust:

         The estimated daily accrual of interest under the plans of
         distribution for each of the Trusts

         Data regarding the composition of the portfolio of each
         Trust

         Disclosure regarding the states' economic and legislative
         matters relevant to investors of state trusts

         Concentrations of issues by purpose in each Trust

         The approximate percentage of the bonds in the
         portfolio of each Trust acquired in distributions where
         the Sponsor was either the sole underwriter or manager
         or member of the underwriting syndicate

         The percentage of "when issued" bonds in the portfolio
         of each Trust

         The schedule of investments for each Trust, including
         the notes thereto

         Descriptions of the opinions of the special tax
         counsel for state trusts

         The Record Dates and Distribution Dates for
         interest distributions for each Trust

         The distribution table for each Trust

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

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

         The amount of the Trustee's Fee

                             THE INDENTURE

The Schedules to the Indenture have been completed.


CHAPMAN AND CUTLER


Chicago, Illinois

7/31/95


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