NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 823
S-6EL24, 1995-09-01
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<PAGE>
                                                      40 ACT FILE NO. 811-2271


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    FORM S-6

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

A.  Exact Name of Trust:     NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 823

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

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

                             333 West Wacker Drive
                            Chicago, Illinois  60606

D.  Name and complete address of agents for service:

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


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

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

_____
_____  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

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

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

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

E.  Title and amount of securities being registered:  An indefinite number of
Units pursuant to Rule 24f-2 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.

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

G.  Amount of filing fee:  $500 (as required by Rule 24f-2)

H.  Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:

                  As soon as practicable after the effective
                      date of the registration statement

-----       Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective
-----       on (Date) at (Time) pursuant to Rule 487.


______________________________________________________________________________

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



<PAGE>
                                                                               B
                               SEPTEMBER 1, 1995
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
 
NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
             PROSPECTUS -- PART B
            (GENERAL TERMS)
   
              SEPTEMBER 1, 1995
    
 
THIS  PART B OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY PART
A. BOTH PARTS OF THIS PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
FURTHER DETAIL REGARDING CERTAIN OF  THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE  PROSPECTUS
MAY  BE OBTAINED WITHIN FIVE  BUSINESS DAYS OF WRITTEN  OR TELEPHONIC REQUEST TO
THE TRUSTEE AT 770 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10003 OR (800) 257-8787.
 
INTEREST INCOME TO A TRUST AND TO UNITHOLDERS, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL,  UNDER
EXISTING  LAW IS  EXEMPT FROM  FEDERAL INCOME  TAX. CAPITAL  GAINS, IF  ANY, ARE
SUBJECT TO TAX. IN ADDITION, INTEREST INCOME OF STATE TRUSTS IS, IN THE  OPINION
OF  COUNSEL,  EXEMPT,  TO THE  EXTENT  INDICATED,  FROM STATE  AND  LOCAL TAXES.
INTEREST INCOME OF ANY TRUST  OTHER THAN A STATE TRUST  MAY BE SUBJECT TO  STATE
AND LOCAL TAXES.
 
CURRENTLY  OFFERED AT PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE PLUS INTEREST ACCRUED TO THE DATE OF
SETTLEMENT. MINIMUM PURCHASE-- EITHER $5,000 OR 50 UNITS, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
 
THIS NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT  UNIT TRUST  SERIES consists of  the underlying  separate
unit  investment  trust set  forth  in Part  A  to this  Prospectus.  Each Trust
initially consists  of delivery  statements relating  to contracts  to  purchase
Bonds  and, thereafter, will  consist of a  diversified portfolio of obligations
issued by  or on  behalf of  states and  territories of  the United  States  and
authorities  and political  subdivisions thereof (see  "Schedule of Investments"
appearing in Part A of this  Prospectus). Except in specific instances as  noted
in  Part A of  this Prospectus, the  information contained in  this Part B shall
apply to each Trust in its  entirety. All obligations in each Traditional  Trust
are  rated in  the category "A"  or better  by Standard &  Poor's Corporation or
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. on the Date of Deposit. All obligations in  each
Insured  Trust  are covered  by  policies of  insurance  obtained from  the MBIA
Insurance Corporation guaranteeing payment of  principal and interest when  due.
All  such policies of insurance remain effective  so long as the obligations are
outstanding. As a result of such insurance,  the Bonds in each portfolio of  the
Insured  Trusts have  received a rating  of "Aaa" by  Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. and the Bonds in the Insured Trusts  and the Units of each such Trust  have
received  a rating of "AAA" by  Standard & Poor's Corporation. INSURANCE RELATES
ONLY TO THE BONDS IN THE INSURED TRUSTS  AND NOT TO THE UNITS OFFERED HEREBY  OR
TO THEIR MARKET VALUE. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?".)
 
THE  OBJECTIVES of  a Trust  are tax-exempt  income and  conservation of capital
through a diversified investment  in tax-exempt Bonds.  The payment of  interest
and  the preservation of principal are, of course, dependent upon the continuing
ability of  the issuers  of  Bonds and  of any  insurer  thereof to  meet  their
obligations  thereunder. There is no guarantee that a Trust's objectives will be
achieved. (See "RISK FACTORS".)
 
DISTRIBUTIONS of interest received by a Trust will be made semi-annually  unless
the  Unitholder  elects to  receive them  monthly or  quarterly. (See  "WHEN ARE
DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO  UNITHOLDERS?".) Distribution  of funds  in the  Principal
Account, if any, will ordinarily be made semi-annually.
 
FOR  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS to Unitholders in
each Trust on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See Part A of this
Prospectus and  "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED  LONG  TERM RETURN  AND  ESTIMATED  CURRENT
RETURN?".)
 
THE  PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE  per Unit of  each Trust during  the initial offering
period is equal to a pro rata share of the OFFERING prices of the Bonds in  such
Trust's  portfolio plus  a sales charge  of up  to 4.90% of  the Public Offering
Price (equivalent to  5.152% of the  net amount invested);  the sales charge  is
somewhat lower on Trusts with lesser average maturities. (See "HOW IS THE PUBLIC
OFFERING  PRICE DETERMINED?".)  The Secondary  Market Public  Offering Price per
Unit for each Trust will be equal to a  pro rata share of the sum of BID  prices
of the Bonds in such Trust plus the sales charges determined based on the number
of  years remaining  to the  maturity of  each Bond.  Accrued interest  from the
preceding Record Date to, but not including, the settlement date (normally three
business days after purchase) is added  to the Public Offering Price. The  sales
charge  is reduced on a graduated scale  for sales involving at least $50,000 or
500 Units  and will  be applied  on whichever  basis is  more favorable  to  the
purchaser. (See "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?".)
 
A  UNITHOLDER MAY REDEEM UNITS at the office of the Trustee at prices based upon
the BID prices of the Bonds. The  price received upon redemption may be more  or
less  than the amount paid by Unitholders, depending upon the value of the Bonds
on the date of tender  for redemption. (See "HOW  UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED  WITHOUT
CHARGE?".)  The  Sponsor, although  not required  to  do so,  intends to  make a
secondary market for the Units of the Trusts at prices based upon the BID prices
of the Bonds  in the respective  Trusts. (See "MARKET  FOR UNITS".) RETAIN  BOTH
PART A AND PART B OF THIS PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
 
RISK  FACTORS. An investment in a Trust  should be made with an understanding of
the risks associated therewith, including, among other factors, the inability of
the issuer or an insurer to pay the principal of or interest on a bond when due,
volatile interest rates, early call provisions, and changes to the tax status of
the Bonds. See Part A of this Prospectus and "RISK FACTORS."
 
UNITS OF THE TRUST ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER AGENCY AND
INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISK, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON  THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
  NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      INDEX                                                             PAGE
<C>   <S>                                              <C>        <C>
      WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST?                            3
      WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?                               3
      SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS                                                3
      RISK FACTORS                                                         4
      COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS                                                6
      WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?                                   7
      HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?                         8
      MARKET FOR UNITS                                                    11
      WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?                                           11
      WHAT ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED
      CURRENT RETURN?                                                     12
      HOW WAS THE PRICE OF THE BONDS DETERMINED AT THE
      DATE
      OF DEPOSIT?                                                         12
      WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?                              13
      WHAT ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?                           14
      WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?                         15
      ACCUMULATION PLAN                                                   16
      HOW DETAILED ARE REPORTS TO UNITHOLDERS?                            17
      UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION                                           17
      HOW UNITS OF THE TRUSTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE
      PUBLIC                                                              17
      OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS                                     19
      HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE                            19
      HOW UNITS MAY BE PURCHASED BY THE SPONSOR                           20
      HOW BONDS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUSTS                            20
      INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUSTEE                                       21
      INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR                                       22
      OTHER INFORMATION                                                   22
</TABLE>
 
                  2
<PAGE>
WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST?
 
This  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit  Trust is one  of a series  of separate but similar
investment companies created by  the Sponsor, each of  which is designated by  a
different Series number. The underlying unit investment trusts contained in this
Series   are  combined  under  one   Trust  Indenture  and  Agreement.  Specific
information regarding this Trust is set forth in Part A of this Prospectus.  The
various Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts are collectively referred to herein as the
"Trusts"; the trusts in which few or none of the Bonds are insured are sometimes
referred  to as the "Traditional  Trusts", the trusts in  which all of the Bonds
are insured  as described  herein  are sometimes  referred  to as  the  "Insured
Trusts",  and  the state  trusts (both  Traditional  and Insured)  are sometimes
referred to as the "State Trusts." This Series was created under the laws of the
State of New York pursuant to a Trust Indenture and Agreement dated the Date  of
Deposit (the "Indenture") between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated (the "Sponsor")
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. (the "Trustee").
 
    The  Sponsor has deposited with the  Trustee delivery statements relating to
contracts for the  purchase of  municipal debt obligations  together with  funds
represented by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a major commercial bank
in  the amount, including accrued interest,  required for their purchase (or the
obligations themselves) (the "Bonds"). See  "Schedule of Investments" in Part  A
of  this Prospectus, for a  description of the Securities  deposited in a Trust.
See "SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS" and "RISK  FACTORS" for a discussion of zero  coupon
bonds  and stripped  obligations included  in the  Trusts, if  any. Some  of the
delivery statements may relate to contracts for the purchase of "when issued" or
other Bonds with delivery dates after the date of settlement for a purchase made
on the Date  of Deposit. See  the "Schedule of  Investments" in Part  A of  this
Prospectus  and  "COMPOSITION  OF TRUSTS".  For  a discussion  of  the Sponsor's
obligations in the event of a failure of any contract for the purchase of any of
the Bonds and its limited right to substitute other bonds to replace any  failed
contract, see "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS."
 
    Payment  of interest on the Bonds in each Insured Trust, and of principal at
maturity, is guaranteed under policies of  insurance obtained by the Sponsor  or
by  the issuers of the Bonds.  (See "WHY AND HOW ARE  THE BONDS INSURED?".) AS A
GENERAL MATTER, NEITHER THE ISSUER NOR  THE SPONSOR HAS OBTAINED INSURANCE  WITH
RESPECT TO THE BONDS IN ANY TRADITIONAL TRUST.
 
    The  Trustee has delivered  to the Sponsor  registered Units which represent
ownership of  the  entire  Trust,  and  which  are  offered  for  sale  by  this
Prospectus.  Each Unit of a Trust  represents a fractional undivided interest in
the principal and net income of such Trust in the ratio set forth in  "Essential
Information"  in Part A of this Prospectus. Units  may only be sold in states in
which they  are registered.  To  the extent  that any  Units  of any  Trust  are
redeemed by the Trustee, the aggregate value of the Trust's assets will decrease
by  the amount  paid to the  redeeming Unitholder, but  the fractional undivided
interest of each unredeemed  Unit in such  Trust will increase  proportionately.
The  Sponsor will  initially, and  from time to  time thereafter,  hold Units in
connection with their offering.
 
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?
 
The objectives of the Trusts are income  exempt from Federal income tax and,  in
the  case of State Trusts, where applicable, state income and intangibles taxes,
and conservation of capital, through an  investment in obligations issued by  or
on  behalf of states  and territories of  the United States  and authorities and
political subdivisions thereof,  the interest  on which  is, in  the opinion  of
recognized  bond counsel  to the  issuing governmental  authorities, exempt from
Federal income  tax  under  existing  law  and  certain  state  income  tax  and
intangibles taxes, if any, for purchasers who qualify as residents of that State
in  which Bonds are issued. Insurance guaranteeing the timely payment, when due,
of all  principal and  interest on  the Bonds  in each  Insured Trust  has  been
obtained  by the  Sponsor or by  the issuers  of such Bonds  from MBIA Insurance
Corporation, and as a  result of such insurance  the obligations in the  Insured
Trusts  are rated "Aaa" by Moody's and "AAA" by Standard & Poor's. (See "WHY AND
HOW ARE THE  BONDS INSURED?".)  All obligations  in each  Traditional Trust  are
rated  in the category  "A" or better  (SP-1 or MIG  2 or better  in the case of
short term obligations included in a Short Term Traditional Trust) by Standard &
Poor's or Moody's (including provisional  or conditional ratings). In  addition,
certain  Bonds  in  certain  Traditional  Trusts  may  be  covered  by insurance
guaranteeing the timely payment, when due, of all principal and interest.  There
is,  of course, no guarantee that the Trusts' objectives will be achieved. For a
comparison of net  after-tax return for  various tax brackets  see the  "TAXABLE
EQUIVALENT  ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN  TABLES" included in  the Appendices to the
Information Supplement of this Prospectus.
 
SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS
 
In selecting  Bonds for  the  respective Trusts,  the following  factors,  among
others,  were considered:  (i) the Standard  & Poor's Corporation  rating of the
Bonds or the Moody's Investors Service, Inc. rating of the Bonds (see "WHAT  ARE
THE  OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?" for  a description of minimum rating standards),
(ii) the prices of the Bonds relative  to other bonds of comparable quality  and
maturity, (iii) the diversification of Bonds as to purpose of issue and location
of  issuer, (iv) the  maturity dates of  the Bonds, and  (v) in the  case of the
Insured Trusts only, the availability of MBIA Insurance Corporation insurance on
such Bonds. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?".)
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
 
    An investment in Units of any Trust should be made with an understanding  of
the  risks that such an investment may entail. Each Trust consists of fixed-rate
municipal debt  obligations. As  such, the  value of  the debt  obligations  and
therefore  of  the  Units will  decline  with  increases in  interest  rates. In
general, the longer the period until the maturity of a Bond, the more  sensitive
its  value will be to fluctuations in interest rates. The Sponsor cannot predict
the extent or timing  of such fluctuations and,  accordingly, their effect  upon
the  value of the debt obligations.  Additional risk factors include the ability
of the issuer, or, if applicable, an  insurer, to make payments of interest  and
principal  when due,  "mandatory put"  features, early  call provisions  and the
potential for changes in the tax status of the Bonds. As set forth in Part A  of
this Prospectus, the Trusts may contain or be concentrated in one or more of the
types of bonds discussed below. The following paragraphs briefly discuss certain
circumstances which may adversely affect the ability of issuers of Bonds held in
the  portfolio of a Trust to make payment of principal and interest thereon, and
which also  therefore may  adversely  affect the  ratings  of such  Bonds.  With
respect  to Insured  Trusts, however, because  of the insurance  obtained by the
Sponsor or by the issuers of the Bonds, such changes should not adversely affect
an Insured Trust's receipt of principal and interest, the Standard & Poor's  AAA
or  Moody's Aaa  ratings of  the Bonds  in the  Insured Trust  portfolio, or the
Standard & Poor's AAA rating of the Units of each such Insured Trust. The  Bonds
described   below  may  be  subject   to  special  or  extraordinary  redemption
provisions. For economic risks specific to the individual Trusts, see Part A  of
this  Prospectus  and  the  Appendices to  the  Information  Supplement  of this
Prospectus.
 
    HEALTH FACILITY OBLIGATIONS  are obligations of  issuers whose revenues  are
derived  from services  provided by hospitals  or other  health care facilities,
including nursing  homes. The  ability  of such  issuers  to make  debt  service
payments  on  these  obligations  is  dependent  on  various  factors, including
occupancy levels  of the  facility,  demand for  services, wages  of  employees,
overhead   expenses,  competition  from   other  similar  providers,  government
regulation, the cost of  malpractice insurance, and  the degree of  governmental
financial assistance, including Medicare and Medicaid.
 
    HOUSING  OBLIGATIONS are obligations of issuers whose revenues are primarily
derived from mortgage loans on single family residences or housing projects  for
low to moderate income families. Housing obligations are generally prepayable at
any  time and therefore  their average life  will ordinarily be  less than their
stated maturities. The ability of such issuers to make debt service payments  on
these  obligations is dependent on  various factors, including occupancy levels,
rental income, mortgage default  rates, taxes, operating expenses,  governmental
regulations and the appropriation of subsidies.
 
    INDUSTRIAL  REVENUE  OBLIGATIONS  are  industrial  revenue  bonds  ("IRBs"),
including pollution  control  revenue  bonds, which  are  tax-exempt  securities
issued  by  states, municipalities,  public authorities  or similar  entities to
finance the  cost of  acquiring, constructing  or improving  various  industrial
projects.  Debt  service  payment on  IRBs  is dependent  upon  various factors,
including the creditworthiness of the corporate operator of the project and,  if
applicable,  corporate guarantor, revenues generated  from the project, expenses
associated with the project and regulatory and environmental restrictions.
 
    ELECTRIC UTILITY OBLIGATIONS are obligations  of issuers whose revenues  are
primarily  derived from the sale of electric energy. The ability of such issuers
to make  debt service  payments on  these obligations  is dependent  on  various
factors,  including the rates  for electricity, the  demand for electricity, the
degree of competition, governmental  regulation, overhead expenses and  variable
costs, such as fuel.
 
    TRANSPORTATION FACILITY REVENUE OBLIGATIONS are obligations of issuers which
are  payable  from  and  secured  by revenues  derived  from  the  ownership and
operation of airports, public transit systems and ports. The ability of  issuers
to  make  debt  service payments  on  airport  obligations is  dependent  on the
capability of airlines to  meet their obligations under  use agreements. Due  to
increased  competition, deregulation,  increased fuel  costs and  other factors,
many airlines  may have  difficulty meeting  their obligations  under these  use
agreements.  Bonds  that are  secured primarily  by the  revenue collected  by a
public transit system typically  are additionally secured by  a pledge of  sales
tax  receipts collected at  the state or  local level, or  of other governmental
financial assistance. The revenue of issuers of transit system obligations  will
be  affected by variations in utilization, which  in turn may be affected by the
degree of  local governmental  subsidization, competition  from other  forms  of
transportation,  and  increased costs.  Port  authorities derive  their revenues
primarily from fees imposed  on ships using the  facilities which may  fluctuate
depending  on  the local  economy  and on  competition  from competing  forms of
transportation such  as air,  rail and  trucks. The  revenues of  issuers  which
derive  their  payments  from bridge,  road  or  tunnel toll  revenues  could be
adversely affected  by  increases  in fuel  costs,  competition  from  toll-free
vehicular bridges and roads and alternative modes of transportation.
 
    WATER  AND/OR SEWERAGE OBLIGATIONS are obligations of issuers whose revenues
are payable from user fees from the sale of water and/or sewerage services.  The
problems    of   such   issuers    include   the   ability    to   obtain   rate
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
increases, population  declines, the  limitations  on operations  and  increased
costs  and delays attributable to environmental considerations, the difficulties
obtaining new supplies of fresh water,  the effect of conservation programs  and
in "no-growth" zoning ordinances.
 
    UNIVERSITY  AND COLLEGE REVENUE OBLIGATIONS are obligations of issuers whose
revenues are  derived  mainly  from  tuition,  dormitory  revenues,  grants  and
endowments.  General  problems faced  by such  issuers  include declines  in the
number of "college" age  individuals, possible inability  to raise tuitions  and
fees,  the uncertainty of continued receipt of Federal grants and state funding,
and government  legislation  or  regulations  which  may  adversely  affect  the
revenues or costs of such issuers.
 
    DEDICATED-TAX  SUPPORTED OBLIGATIONS  are obligations  of issuers  which are
payable from  and  secured by  tax  revenues  from a  designated  source,  which
revenues  are pledged to secure the bonds.  The various types of Bonds described
below differ in structure and with respect  to the rights of the bondholders  to
the  underlying property. Each type of dedicated-tax supported Bond has distinct
risks, only  some  of which  are  set forth  below.  One type  of  dedicated-tax
supported  Bond  is  secured by  the  incremental  tax received  on  either real
property or on sales within a  specifically defined geographical area; such  tax
generally will not provide bondholders with a lien on the underlying property or
revenues.  Another type of dedicated-tax supported  Bond is secured by a special
tax levied on real property within a defined geographical area in such a  manner
that  the  tax is  levied  on those  who benefit  from  the project;  such bonds
typically provide for  a statutory lien  on the underlying  property for  unpaid
taxes.  A third  type of dedicated-tax  supported Bond  may be secured  by a tax
levied upon the  manufacture, sale  or consumption  of commodities  or upon  the
license  to pursue  certain occupations  or upon  corporate privileges  within a
taxing jurisdiction. As  to any  of these  types of  Bonds, the  ability of  the
designated revenues to satisfy the interest and principal payments on such bonds
may  be affected by changes  in the local economy,  the financial success of the
enterprise responsible for the payment of  the taxes, the value of any  property
on which taxes may be assessed and the ability to collect such taxes in a timely
fashion.  Each of these  factors will have  a different affect  on each distinct
type of dedicated-tax supported bonds.
 
    MUNICIPAL LEASE  OBLIGATIONS  are  obligations that  are  secured  by  lease
payments  of a  governmental entity  and are  normally subject  to annual budget
appropriations of the  leasing governmental entity.  A governmental entity  that
enters  into  such  a  lease agreement  cannot  obligate  future  governments to
appropriate for and make lease payments but covenants to take such action as  is
necessary  to include  any lease  payments due  in its  budgets and  to make the
appropriations therefor. A governmental entity's failure to appropriate for  and
to  make payments under its lease  obligation could result in insufficient funds
available for payment of the obligations secured thereby.
 
    ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT OBLIGATIONS AND STRIPPED OBLIGATIONS are bonds which
were issued with  nominal interest  rates less than  the rates  then offered  by
comparable  securities and as  a consequence were originally  sold at a discount
from their face,  or par,  values. In a  stable interest  rate environment,  the
market  value of  an original  issue discount bond  would tend  to increase more
slowly in early years and in greater increments as the bond approached maturity.
 
    Certain of the original  issue discount obligations in  a Trust may be  zero
coupon  bonds. Zero coupon bonds  do not provide for  the payment of any current
interest; the buyer receives only  the right to receive  a final payment of  the
face  amount  of the  bond at  its maturity.  Zero coupon  bonds are  subject to
substantially greater  price  fluctuations  during periods  of  changing  market
interest  rates  than are  securities of  comparable  quality that  pay interest
currently.
 
    Original issue discount  obligations, including  zero coupon  bonds, may  be
subject  to redemption  at prices based  on the  issue price plus  the amount of
original issue discount accreted to  redemption (the "accreted value") plus,  if
applicable,  some premium. Pursuant  to such call  provisions, an original issue
discount bond may be called prior to its maturity date at a price less than  its
face  value.  See the  "Schedule of  Investments"  appearing in  Part A  of this
Prospectus for more information about the call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
    Certain of the Bonds in a Trust may be stripped obligations, which represent
evidences of  ownership with  respect to  either the  principal amount  of or  a
payment  of interest on  a tax-exempt obligation  ("Stripped Obligations"). Each
Stripped Obligation has been purchased at a discount from the amount payable  at
maturity.  A Stripped Obligation therefore  has economic characteristics similar
to zero coupon bonds, as described above.
 
    Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the  state
and  local tax consequences of owning  original issue discount bonds or Stripped
Obligations. Under applicable  provisions governing determination  of state  and
local  taxes,  interest  on  original  issue  discount  obligations  or Stripped
Obligations may be  deemed to be  received in  the year of  accrual even  though
there is no corresponding cash payment.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
    Certain  bonds may carry a "mandatory put" (also referred to as a "mandatory
tender" or "mandatory repurchase") feature pursuant to which the holder of  such
bonds will receive payment of the full principal amount thereof on a stated date
prior  to the maturity date unless such  holder affirmatively acts to retain the
bond. The Trustee does not have the  authority to act to retain Bonds with  such
features;  accordingly, it will receive payment  of the full principal amount of
any such Bonds on the stated put date and such date is therefore treated as  the
maturity date of such Bonds in selecting Bonds for the respective Trusts and for
purposes of calculating the average maturity of the Bonds in any Trust.
 
COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS
 
Each  Trust initially consists  of delivery statements  relating to contracts to
purchase Bonds (or of such Bonds) as are listed under "Schedule of  Investments"
in  Part A of this Prospectus and, thereafter,  of such Bonds as may continue to
be held from time to time  (including certain securities deposited in the  Trust
in  substitution  for  Bonds  not  delivered  to  a  Trust  or  in  exchange  or
substitution for  Bonds  upon certain  refundings),  together with  accrued  and
undistributed   interest  thereon  and  undistributed  cash  realized  from  the
disposition of Bonds.
 
    "WHEN-ISSUED"  AND  "DELAYED  DELIVERY"  TRANSACTIONS.    The  contracts  to
purchase  Bonds delivered to  the Trustee represent an  obligation by issuers or
dealers to deliver Bonds to  the Sponsor for deposit  in the Trusts. Certain  of
the  contracts relate  to Bonds  which have not  been issued  as of  the Date of
Deposit and which are commonly referred to as "when issued" or "when, as and  if
issued"  Bonds. Although  the Sponsor  believes it  unlikely, if  such Bonds, or
replacement bonds  described below,  are not  acquired by  a Trust  or if  their
delivery  is  delayed, the  Estimated Current  Returns  and Estimated  Long Term
Returns shown  in Part  A of  this Prospectus  may be  reduced. Certain  of  the
contracts for the purchase of Bonds provide for delivery dates after the date of
settlement  for purchases made  on the Date  of Deposit. Interest  on such "when
issued" and  "delayed delivery"  Bonds  accrues to  the benefit  of  Unitholders
commencing with the first settlement date for the Units. However, in the opinion
of  counsel, Unitholders who purchase  their Units prior to  the date such Bonds
are actually delivered to the Trustee must  reduce the tax basis of their  Units
for  interest accruing on such Bonds  during the interval between their purchase
of Units and the delivery of the Bonds because such amounts constitute a  return
of  principal. As a result of such adjustment, the Estimated Current Returns set
forth in Part A of this Prospectus (which are based on the Public Offering Price
as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit) may be slightly lower  than
Unitholders  will receive after the first  year, assuming the Portfolio does not
change and estimated  annual expense  does not vary  from that  set forth  under
"Essential  Information" in Part A of this Prospectus. Those Bonds in each Trust
purchased with delivery dates after the date of settlement for purchases made on
the Date of Deposit are so noted in  the "Schedule of Investments" in Part A  of
this Prospectus.
 
    LIMITED  REPLACEMENT OF CERTAIN BONDS.   Neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee
shall be liable in any  way for any default, failure  or defect in any Bond.  In
the  event of a failure to deliver any  Bond that has been purchased for a Trust
under a contract, including those  Bonds purchased on a  when, as and if  issued
basis  ("Failed Bonds"), the Sponsor is authorized under the Indenture to direct
the Trustee to acquire  other specified Bonds ("Replacement  Bonds") to make  up
the  original corpus of the Trust within 20 days after delivery of notice of the
failed contract and the  cost to the Trust  (exclusive of accrued interest)  may
not  exceed the amount of  funds reserved for the  purchase of the Failed Bonds.
The Replacement Bonds  must satisfy  the criteria previously  described for  the
Trusts  and shall be substantially identical to the Failed Bonds they replace in
terms of (i) the exemption from  federal and state taxation; (ii) maturity  and;
(iii)  cost to the Trust. In addition,  Replacement Bonds shall not be "when, as
and if issued" Bonds. Whenever a Replacement Bond has been acquired for a Trust,
the Trustee shall, within five days after the delivery thereof, mail or  deliver
a  notice of such acquisition to all Unitholders of the Trust involved. Once the
original corpus of the Trust is acquired, the Trustee will have no power to vary
the investment of the Trust.
 
    To the extent Replacement Bonds are  not acquired, the Sponsor shall  refund
to  all Unitholders of the Trust involved  the sales charge attributable to such
Failed Bonds not replaced, and  the principal and accrued interest  attributable
to such Bonds shall be distributed not more than 30 days after the determination
of  such failure or at  such earlier time as the  Trustee in its sole discretion
deems to be in the interest of  the Unitholders. Any such accrued interest  paid
to Unitholders will be paid by the Sponsor and, accordingly, will not be treated
as  tax-exempt  income.  In the  event  Failed Bonds  in  a Trust  could  not be
replaced, the  Net Annual  Interest Income  per  Unit for  such Trust  would  be
reduced and the Estimated Current Return thereon might be lowered.
 
    SALE,  MATURITY AND REDEMPTION OF BONDS.  Certain of the Bonds may from time
to time  under certain  circumstances be  sold  or redeemed  or will  mature  in
accordance  with their terms. The proceeds from  such events will be used to pay
for  Units  redeemed   or  distributed  to   Unitholders  and  not   reinvested;
accordingly,  no assurance can be given that  a Trust will retain for any length
of time its present size and composition.
 
    All of the Bonds in  each Trust are subject to  being called or redeemed  in
whole  or in  part prior  to their  stated maturities  pursuant to  the optional
redemption provisions described in  the "Schedule of Investments"  in Part A  of
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
this  Prospectus  and  in  most  cases  pursuant  to  sinking  fund,  special or
extraordinary redemption provisions. See the discussion of the various types  of
bond  issues,  above, for  information  on the  call  provisions of  such bonds,
particularly single family mortgage revenue bonds.
 
    The exercise of redemption or call provisions will (except to the extent the
proceeds of the called Bonds are used to pay for Unit redemptions) result in the
distribution of  principal  and may  result  in a  reduction  in the  amount  of
subsequent  interest distributions;  it may  also affect  the current  return on
Units of the Trust  involved. The exercise of  redemption or call provisions  is
more  likely to occur in  situations where when the  Bonds have an offering side
evaluation which represents a  premium over par (as  opposed to a discount  from
par).  (In  the  case  of  original issue  discount  bonds,  such  redemption is
generally to  be made  at the  issue price  plus the  amount of  original  issue
discount accreted to the date of redemption; such price is referred to herein as
"accreted  value"). Because Bonds may have been  valued at prices above or below
par value or the then current accreted  value at the time Units were  purchased,
Unitholders  may realize  gain or loss  upon the redemption  of portfolio Bonds.
(See "WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS  OF UNITHOLDERS?" and "WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS  MADE
TO  UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B and the "Schedule  of Investments" in Part A of this
Prospectus.)
 
    CERTAIN TAX  MATTERS;  LITIGATION.    Certain of  the  Bonds  in  a  Trust's
portfolio  may be subject to  continuing requirements such as  the actual use of
bond proceeds, manner of operation of the project financed from bond proceeds or
rebate of excess  earnings on  bond proceeds that  may affect  the exemption  of
interest  on such Bonds  from Federal income  taxation. Although at  the time of
issuance of each  of the  Bonds in  each Trust an  opinion of  bond counsel  was
rendered as to the exemption of interest on such obligations from Federal income
taxation,  and the issuers covenanted to  comply with all requirements necessary
to retain the tax-exempt status of the Bonds, there can be no assurance that the
respective issuers  or  other obligors  on  such obligations  will  fulfill  the
various  continuing  requirements  established  upon issuance  of  the  Bonds. A
failure to comply with such requirements may cause a determination that interest
on such  obligations  is  subject  to  Federal  income  taxation,  perhaps  even
retroactively  from the  date of  issuance of  such Bonds,  thereby reducing the
value of the Bonds and subjecting Unitholders to unanticipated tax liabilities.
 
    To the best knowledge of the Sponsor,  there is no litigation pending as  of
the  Date of Deposit in respect of  any Bonds which might reasonably be expected
to have a  material adverse effect  on any of  the Trusts. It  is possible  that
after  the Date of Deposit, litigation may be initiated with respect to Bonds in
any Trust. Any  such litigation may  affect the  validity of such  Bonds or  the
tax-exempt  nature of the interest thereon,  but while the outcome of litigation
of such nature can never be entirely predicted, the opinions of bond counsel  to
the  issuer of  each Bond  on the date  of issuance  state that  such Bonds were
validly issued and that the interest thereon is, to the extent indicated, exempt
from Federal income tax.
 
WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?
 
Insurance guaranteeing  the  timely payment,  when  due, of  all  principal  and
interest  on the Bonds in each Insured Trust has been obtained by the Sponsor or
by the issuers or underwriters of the Bonds from the MBIA Insurance  Corporation
(the  "Insurer"). Certain of the  Bonds in an Insured Trust  may be covered by a
policy or policies of insurance obtained  by the issuers or underwriters of  the
Bonds  from  Municipal Bond  Insurance Association  (the "Association")  or Bond
Investors Guaranty Insurance Company ("BIG"). The claims-paying ability of  both
the Insurer and the Association was rated "AAA Prime Grade" by Standard & Poor's
Ratings  Group.  Moody's Investors  Service rates  all  bond issuers  insured by
either the Insurer or the Association  "Aaa" and short-term loans "MIG 1,"  both
designated  to be  of the highest  quality. The  Insurer has issued  a policy or
policies of insurance  covering each of  the Bonds in  the Insured Trusts,  each
policy to remain in force until the payment in full of such Bonds and whether or
not  the Bonds continue  to be held  by an Insured  Trust. By the  terms of each
policy the Insurer will  unconditionally guarantee to the  holders or owners  of
the  Bonds the  payment, when  due, required of  the issuer  of the  Bonds of an
amount equal to  the principal of  and interest  on the Bonds  as such  payments
shall  become due but not be paid (except  that in the event of any acceleration
of the due  date of  principal by reason  of mandatory  or optional  redemption,
default  or otherwise, the payments guaranteed will  be made in such amounts and
at such times as would have been due had there not been an acceleration).
 
    Insurance guaranteeing the timely  payment, when due,  of all principal  and
interest  on certain Bonds in a Traditional  Trust may have been obtained by the
Sponsor, issuer or underwriter  of the particular Bonds  involved or by  another
party.  Such insurance, which  provides coverage substantially  the same as that
obtained with  respect  to  Bonds  in Insured  Trusts  as  described  above,  is
effective  so long as the insured Bond is outstanding and the insurer remains in
business. Insurance relates  only to the  particular Bond and  not to the  Units
offered hereby or to their market value. Insured Bonds have received a rating of
"Aaa"  by  Moody's Investors  Service, Inc.  and/or "AAA"  by Standard  & Poor's
Ratings Group in recognition of such insurance.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
    If a Bond in a Traditional  Trust is insured, the "Schedule of  Investments"
appearing in Part A of this Prospectus will identify the insurer. The Sponsor to
date  has purchased  and presently  intends to  purchase insurance  for Bonds in
Traditional Trusts exclusively  from 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 Ratings Group and/  or
Moody's  Investor's Service have rated the claims-paying ability of each insurer
"AAA" or "Aaa," respectively.
 
    The Insurer is the principal operating subsidiary of MBIA, Inc., a New  York
Stock  Exchange listed company. MBIA, Inc. is  not obligated to pay the debts of
or claims against the  Insurer. The Insurer is  a limited liability  corporation
rather  than a  several liability association.  The Insurer is  domiciled in the
State of New York and licensed to do business in all 50 states, the District  of
Columbia,  the Commonwealth  of Puerto  Rico, the  Commonwealth of  the Northern
Mariana Islands, the Virgin  Islands of the United  States and the Territory  of
Guam. The Insurer has one European branch in the Republic of France.
 
    As  of  June  30, 1995  the  Insurer  had admitted  assets  of  $3.6 billion
(unaudited), total liabilities  of $2.4 billion  (unaudited), and total  capital
and  surplus of $1.2 billion (unaudited) determined in accordance with statutory
accounting  practices   prescribed   or  permitted   by   insurance   regulatory
authorities.  As of December 31,  1994, the Insurer had  admitted assets of $3.4
billion (audited),  total  liabilities  of $2.3  billion  (audited),  and  total
capital  and surplus  of $1.1  billion (audited)  determined in  accordance with
statutory accounting practices prescribed  or permitted by insurance  regulatory
authorities.
 
    The  Association is comprised  of the five insurance  companies set forth in
the following table, which provides certain unaudited financial information with
respect to each of the five insurance companies comprising the Association.
 
                      MUNICIPAL BOND INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
      FIVE MEMBER COMPANIES ASSETS AND POLICYHOLDERS' SURPLUS (UNAUDITED)
                           AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1994.
                                (000'S OMITTED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   NEW YORK         NEW YORK         NEW YORK
                                                                                   STATUTORY        STATUTORY     POLICYHOLDERS
                                                                                    ASSETS         LIABILITIES       SURPLUS
                                                                                ---------------  ---------------  --------------
<S>                                                                             <C>              <C>              <C>
The AEtna Casualty & Surety Company...........................................  $    10,030,200  $     8,275,300   $  1,754,900
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company..............................................        6,815,775        4,904,534      1,911,241
The Travelers Indemnity Company...............................................       10,295,359        8,515,392      1,779,967
CIGNA Property and Casualty Company (formerly AEtna Insurance Company)........        5,112,251        4,842,235        270,016
The Continental Insurance Company.............................................        2,794,536        2,449,805        344,731
                                                                                ---------------  ---------------  --------------
        Total.................................................................  $    35,048,121  $    28,987,266   $  6,060,855
                                                                                ---------------  ---------------  --------------
                                                                                ---------------  ---------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
    Insurance companies  are subject  to  extensive regulation  and  supervision
where  they  do  business  by state  insurance  commissioners  who  regulate the
standards of solvency which must be maintained, the nature of and limitations on
investments, reports of financial condition, and requirements regarding reserves
for unearned premiums, losses  and other matters. A  significant portion of  the
assets  of insurance companies are required by law to be held in reserve against
potential claims on policies and is not available to general creditors. Although
the federal  government does  not regulate  the business  of insurance,  federal
initiatives  including  pension  regulation,  controls  on  medical  care costs,
minimum standards for no-fault automobile insurance, national health  insurance,
tax  law changes affecting life insurance  companies and repeal of the antitrust
exemption for  the insurance  business can  significantly impact  the  insurance
business.
 
    The  above ratings are not  recommendations to buy, sell  or hold the Bonds,
and such ratings may  be subject to  revision or withdrawal at  any time by  the
rating  agencies. Any downward revision or  withdrawal of either or both ratings
may have an adverse effect on the market price of the Bonds. See the Information
Supplement--for further information concerning insurance.
 
    Because the insurance on the Bonds, if any, will be effective so long as the
Bonds are outstanding, such insurance will be taken into account in  determining
the  market value  of the  Bonds and therefore  some value  attributable to such
insurance will be included in the value of the Units of the Insured Trusts.  The
insurance  does not, however, guarantee the market  value of the Bonds or of the
Units.
 
HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?
 
The Public Offering Price of the Units  of each Trust is equal to the  Trustee's
determination  of the aggregate  OFFERING prices of  the Bonds deposited therein
(minus any  advancement  to the  principal  account of  the  Trust made  by  the
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
Trustee)  plus a sales charge set forth  in "Essential Information" in Part A of
this Prospectus, in  each case  adding to  the total  thereof cash  held by  the
Trust,  if  any,  and  dividing the  sum  so  obtained by  the  number  of Units
outstanding in the Trust. See "UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION."
 
    The sales charge applicable to quantity purchases is reduced on a  graduated
scale  for sales to any purchaser  of at least $50,000 or  500 Units and will be
applied on whichever basis is more  favorable to the purchaser. For purposes  of
calculating  the applicable  sales charge,  purchasers who  have indicated their
intent to purchase a specified  amount of Units of any  Trust in the primary  or
secondary  offering period by executing and delivering a letter of intent to the
Sponsor, which letter of intent must be in a form acceptable to the Sponsor  and
shall  have a maximum duration of thirteen months, will be eligible to receive a
reduced sales charge according  to the following tables  based on the amount  of
intended  aggregate  purchases as  expressed  in the  letter  of intent.  Due to
administrative limitations and in  order to permit  adequate tracking, the  only
secondary  market  purchases that  will be  permitted to  be applied  toward the
intended specified amount and that will receive the corresponding reduced  sales
charge  are  those Units  that  are acquired  through  or from  the  Sponsor. By
establishing a letter of intent, a Unitholder agrees that the first purchase  of
Units  following the execution of  such letter of intent will  be at least 5% of
the  total  amount  of  the  intended  aggregate  purchases  expressed  in  such
Unitholder's  letter of intent. Further, through the establishment of the letter
of intent, such Unitholder agrees that Units representing 5% of the total amount
of the  intended  purchases  will be  held  in  escrow by  the  Trustee  pending
completion of these purchases. All distributions on Units held in escrow will be
credited  to  such  Unitholder's  account.  If  total  purchases  prior  to  the
expiration of the letter of intent  period equal or exceed the amount  specified
in a Unitholder's letter of intent, the Units held in escrow will be transferred
to  such Unitholder's account. If  the total purchases are  less than the amount
specified, the Unitholder involved must pay  the Sponsor an amount equal to  the
difference  between the amounts  paid for these purchases  and the amounts which
would have  been paid  if the  higher sales  charge had  been applied.  If  such
Unitholder  does  not pay  the additional  amount within  20 days  after written
request by  the  Sponsor  or the  Unitholder's  securities  representative,  the
Sponsor  will  instruct  the Trustee  to  redeem  an appropriate  number  of the
escrowed Units to meet the required payment. By establishing a letter of intent,
a Unitholder irrevocably appoints the  Sponsor as attorney to give  instructions
to  redeem any or  all of such  Unitholder's escrowed Units,  with full power of
substitution in the premises. A Unitholder or his securities representative must
notify the Sponsor whenever  such Unitholder makes a  purchase of Units that  he
wishes  to  be counted  towards the  intended amount.  Sales charges  during the
primary offering period are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     NATIONAL AND STATE      LONG INTERMEDIATE
                                                                                           TRUSTS                  TRUSTS
                                                                                   ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                                                <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....................................................................        4.90%      5.152%       4.25%      4.439%
500 but less than 1,000..........................................................        4.75       4.987        4.15       4.330
1,000 but less than 2,500........................................................        4.50       4.712        3.85       4.004
2,500 but less than 5,000........................................................        4.25       4.439        3.60       3.734
5,000 but less than 10,000.......................................................        3.50       3.627        3.35       3.466
10,000 but less than 25,000......................................................        3.00       3.093        3.00       3.093
25,000 but less than 50,000......................................................        2.50       2.564        2.50       2.564
50,000 or more...................................................................        2.00       2.041        2.00       2.041
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                                    INTERMEDIATE TRUSTS
                                                                                   ----------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>          <C>
                                                                                     PERCENT     PERCENT
                                                                                       OF        OF NET
                                                                                    OFFERING     AMOUNT
                                NUMBER OF UNITS*                                      PRICE     INVESTED
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------
Less than 500....................................................................        3.90%      4.058%
500 but less than 1,000..........................................................        3.70       3.842
1,000 but less than 2,500........................................................        3.50       3.627
2,500 but less than 5,000........................................................        3.25       3.359
5,000 but less than 10,000.......................................................        3.00       3.093
10,000 but less than 25,000......................................................        2.75       2.828
25,000 but less than 50,000......................................................        2.50       2.564
50,000 or more...................................................................        2.00       2.041
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     SHORT INTERMEDIATE
                                                                                           TRUSTS            SHORT TERM TRUSTS
                                                                                   ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                                                <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
 
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                <C>          <C>
                                NUMBER OF UNITS*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 500....................................................................
500 but less than 1,000..........................................................
1,000 but less than 2,500........................................................
2,500 but less than 5,000........................................................
5,000 but less than 10,000.......................................................
10,000 but less than 25,000......................................................
25,000 but less than 50,000......................................................
50,000 or more...................................................................
</TABLE>
 
*Breakpoint sales charges are computed both on  a dollar basis and on the  basis
 of the number of Units purchased, using the equivalent of 500 Units to $50,000,
 2,500  Units to $250,000 etc., and will be  applied on that basis which is more
 favorable to the purchaser.
 
    For "secondary market"  sales the  Public Offering  Price per  Unit of  each
Trust is determined by adding to the Trustee's determination of the BID price of
each  Bond in the Trust  a sales charge determined  in accordance with the table
set forth below based upon the number of years remaining to the maturity of each
such Bond. See "UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION."  The effect of this method of  sales
charge calculation will be that different sales charge
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
rates  will be applied to the various Bonds  in a Trust portfolio based upon the
maturities of such Bonds. As shown, the  sales charge on Bonds in each  maturity
range (and therefore the aggregate sales charge on the purchase) is reduced with
respect to purchases of at least $50,000 or 500 Units:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  AMOUNT OF PURCHASE*
                                                     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
                                                                    $50,000     $100,000     $250,000     $500,000     $1,000,000
                                                        UNDER         TO           TO           TO           TO            TO
YEARS TO MATURITY                                      $50,000      $99,999     $249,999     $499,999     $999,999     $2,499,999
---------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -------------
Less than 1........................................           0            0            0            0            0             0
1 but less than 2..................................       1.523%       1.446%       1.369%       1.317%       1.215%        1.061%
2 but less than 3..................................       2.041        1.937        1.833        1.729        1.626         1.420
3 but less than 4..................................       2.564        2.433        2.302        2.175        2.041         1.781
4 but less than 5..................................       3.093        2.961        2.828        2.617        2.459         2.175
5 but less than 7..................................       3.627        3.433        3.239        3.093        2.881         2.460
7 but less than 10.................................       4.167        3.951        3.734        3.520        3.239         2.828
10 but less than 13................................       4.712        4.467        4.221        4.004        3.788         3.253
13 but less than 16................................       5.263        4.988        4.712        4.439        4.167         3.627
16 or more.........................................       5.820        5.542        5.263        4.987        4.603         4.004
 
<CAPTION>
 
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>
                                                      $2,500,000
                                                          TO         $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY                                     $4,999,999       OR MORE
---------------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------
Less than 1........................................            0              0
1 but less than 2..................................         .900%          .750%
2 but less than 3..................................        1.225          1.030
3 but less than 4..................................        1.546          1.310
4 but less than 5..................................        1.883          1.590
5 but less than 7..................................        2.165          1.870
7 but less than 10.................................        2.489          2.150
10 but less than 13................................        2.842          2.430
13 but less than 16................................        3.169          2.710
16 or more.........................................        3.500          3.000
</TABLE>
 
 *Breakpoint  sales charges are computed both on a dollar basis and on the basis
  of the  number  of Units  purchased,  using the  equivalent  of 500  Units  to
  $50,000,  2,500 Units  to $250,000,  etc., and will  be applied  on that basis
  which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The secondary market sales charges above  are expressed as a percent of  the
net  amount invested; expressed as  a percent of the  Public Offering Price, the
maximum sales charge on  any Trust, including one  consisting entirely of  Bonds
with  16 years  or more to  maturity, would be  5.50% (5.820% of  the net amount
invested). The  actual secondary  market  sales charge  included in  the  Public
Offering  Price of  any particular  Trust will depend  on the  maturities of the
Bonds in the portfolio of such Trust.
 
    Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Trustee may terminate a Trust if
the net asset value of such Trust, as shown by any evaluation, is less than  20%
of the original principal amount of the Trust.
 
    At  all  times while  Units are  being  offered for  sale, the  Sponsor will
appraise or cause to  be appraised daily  the value of  the underlying Bonds  in
each  Trust as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each day on which the New York Stock
Exchange (the "Exchange") is normally open  and will adjust the Public  Offering
Price  of the Units commensurate with such appraisal. Such Public Offering Price
will be effective for all orders received by a dealer or the Sponsor at or prior
to 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each such day. Orders received after that time,  or
on a day when the Exchange is closed for a scheduled holiday or weekend, will be
held until the next determination of price.
 
    Accrued  interest from the preceding Record  Date to, but not including, the
settlement date of the transaction (three business days after purchase) will  be
added to the Public Offering Price to determine the purchase price of Units. See
"WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?".
 
    The  graduated sales  charges set forth  above will apply  on all applicable
purchases of Nuveen  investment company securities  on any one  day by the  same
purchaser  in the amounts stated, and for  this purpose purchases of this Series
will be aggregated with concurrent purchases of any other Series or of shares of
any open-end management  investment company  of which the  Sponsor is  principal
underwriter and with respect to the purchase of which a sales charge is imposed.
Purchases  by or  for the  account of an  individual and  his or  her spouse and
children under 21 years of age  ("immediate family members") will be  aggregated
to  determine the applicable sales charge.  The graduated sales charges are also
applicable to a trustee  or other fiduciary purchasing  securities for a  single
trust  estate or single fiduciary account. Units  may be purchased at the Public
Offering Price without a sales charge by officers or directors and by bona fide,
full-time employees  of  Nuveen,  Nuveen Advisory  Corp.,  Nuveen  Institutional
Advisory  Corp.  and  The John  Nuveen  Company,  including in  each  case these
individuals and their immediate family members (as defined above).
 
    Units may be  purchased in  the primary or  secondary market  at the  Public
Offering  Price for  non-breakpoint purchases  minus the  concession the Sponsor
typically allows to brokers and  dealers for non-breakpoint purchases (see  "HOW
UNITS  OF  THE TRUSTS  ARE DISTRIBUTED  TO  THE PUBLIC?")  by (1)  investors who
purchase Units  through  registered  investment  advisers,  certified  financial
planners  and registered broker-dealers who in  each case either charge periodic
fees for financial planning, investment  advisory or asset management  services,
or  provide such services in connection  with the establishment of an investment
account for which a comprehensive "wrap  fee" charge is imposed, (2) bank  trust
departments  investing funds  over which  they exercise  exclusive discretionary
investment authority and  that are  held in  a fiduciary,  agency, custodial  or
similar  capacity, (3) any person who for at least 90 days, has been an officer,
director or bona fide employee of any firm offering Units for sale to  investors
or  their  immediate family  members  (as defined  above)  and (4)  officers and
directors of  bank  holding companies  that  make Units  available  directly  or
through  subsidiaries  or  bank  affiliates.  Notwithstanding  anything  to  the
contrary in  this  Prospectus,  such investors,  bank  trust  departments,  firm
employees  and bank  holding company officers  and directors  who purchase Units
through this  program will  not  receive sales  charge reductions  for  quantity
purchases.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    The  initial or primary Public Offering Price  of the Units in each Trust is
based upon a pro rata share of the OFFERING prices per Unit of the Bonds in such
Trust plus the  applicable sales  charge. The secondary  market Public  Offering
Price of each Trust is based upon a pro rata share of the BID prices per Unit of
the Bonds in such Trust plus the applicable sales charge. The OFFERING prices of
Bonds in a Trust may be expected to average between 1/2% to 2% more than the BID
prices  of such Bonds.  The difference between  the bid side  evaluation and the
offering side evaluation of the Bonds in each Trust on the business day prior to
the Date of Deposit is shown in the discussion of each Trust portfolio.
 
    Whether or not Units are being offered for sale, the Sponsor will  determine
the aggregate value of each Trust as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time: (i) on each June
30 or December 31 (or, if such date is not a business day, the last business day
prior  thereto), (ii) on any day on which  a Unit is tendered for redemption (or
the next succeeding business day  if the date of  tender is a non-business  day)
and (iii) at such other times as may be necessary. For this purpose, a "business
day"  shall be any day on which the  Exchange is normally open. (See "UNIT VALUE
AND EVALUATION.")
 
MARKET FOR UNITS
 
During the  initial public  offering period,  the Sponsor  intends to  offer  to
purchase  Units of each  Trust at a price  equivalent to the  pro rata share per
Unit of the OFFERING prices of the Bonds in such Trust (plus accrued  interest).
Afterward,  although  it is  not  obligated to  do  so, the  Sponsor  intends to
maintain a secondary  market for  Units of  each Trust  at its  own expense  and
continuously  to offer  to purchase  Units of each  Trust at  prices, subject to
change at  any time,  which  are based  upon  the BID  prices  of Bonds  in  the
respective  portfolios of the  Trusts. UNITHOLDERS WHO WISH  TO DISPOSE OF THEIR
UNITS SHOULD INQUIRE OF THE TRUSTEE OR THEIR BROKER AS TO THE CURRENT REDEMPTION
PRICE. (See "HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE?".) In connection with its
secondary marketmaking activities, the Sponsor may from time to time enter  into
secondary  market  joint  account  agreements with  other  brokers  and dealers.
Pursuant to such an agreement the Sponsor will purchase Units from the broker or
dealer at the bid price and will place the Units into a joint account managed by
the Sponsor; sales from  the account will  be made in  accordance with the  then
current  prospectus and the Sponsor and the  broker or dealer will share profits
and losses in  the joint account  in accordance  with the terms  of their  joint
account agreement.
 
    Certificates,  if any, for Units are  delivered to the purchaser as promptly
after the date of settlement (three business days after purchase) as the Trustee
can complete  the mechanics  of  registration, normally  within 48  hours  after
registration instructions are received. Purchasers of Units to whom Certificates
are  issued will be unable  to exercise any right  of redemption until they have
received their Certificates as tender of the Certificate, properly endorsed  for
transfer. (See "HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE?".)
 
WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?
 
Accrued  interest is the accumulation of unpaid interest on a bond from the last
day on which  interest thereon  was paid.  Interest on  Bonds in  each Trust  is
accounted  for daily on an accrual basis. For this reason, the purchase price of
Units of a Trust will  include not only the Public  Offering Price but also  the
proportionate  share  of accrued  interest to  the  date of  settlement. Accrued
interest does not  include accrual  of original  issue discount  on zero  coupon
bonds,  Stripped Obligations  or other  original issue  discount bonds. Interest
accrues to the  benefit of Unitholders  commencing with the  settlement date  of
their purchase transaction.
 
    In  an effort to reduce the amount  of accrued interest that investors would
have to pay in addition to the Public Offering Price, the Trustee has agreed  to
advance  to each Trust the amount of accrued interest due on the Bonds as of the
Date of Deposit (which has been designated  the first Record Date for all  plans
of  distribution). This  accrued interest  will be  paid to  the Sponsor  as the
holder of record of all Units on  the Date of Deposit. Consequently, the  amount
of  accrued interest  to be  added to  the Public  Offering Price  of Units will
include only accrued interest  from the Date of  Deposit to, but not  including,
the  date of  settlement of the  investor's purchase (three  business days after
purchase), less any distributions from the related Interest Account. The Trustee
will recover its  advancements (without interest  or other cost  to the  Trusts)
from interest received on the Bonds deposited in each Trust.
 
    The  Trustee has no  cash for distribution to  Unitholders until it receives
interest payments on the Bonds in  the Trusts. Since municipal bond interest  is
accrued  daily but  paid only  semi-annually, during  the initial  months of the
Trusts, the Interest  Accounts, consisting of  accrued but uncollected  interest
and  collected interest  (cash), will  be predominantly  the uncollected accrued
interest that is not available for distribution. However, due to advances by the
Trustee, the Trustee will provide a first distribution between approximately  30
and  60 days after the Date of Deposit. Assuming each Trust retains its original
size and composition  and expenses  and fees  remain the  same, annual  interest
collected  and distributed  will approximate  the estimated  Net Annual Interest
Income stated herein. However,  the amount of accrued  interest at any point  in
time  will  be greater  than  the amount  that  the Trustee  will  have actually
received and distributed to the Unitholders. Therefore, there will always remain
an item of  accrued interest  that is  included in  the Purchase  Price and  the
redemption price of the Units.
 
    Interest  is accounted  for daily and  a proportionate share  of accrued and
undistributed interest computed from the preceding  Record Date is added to  the
daily  valuation of each Unit of each Trust.  (See Part A of this Prospectus and
"WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?".) As Bonds mature, or are redeemed
or sold,  the  accrued  interest  applicable to  such  bonds  is  collected  and
subsequently distributed to Unitholders. Unitholders who
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
sell  or redeem all or a portion of their Units will be paid their proportionate
share of  the  remaining accrued  interest  to,  but not  including,  the  third
business day following the date of sale or tender.
 
WHAT ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?
 
The  Estimated Long Term Return for each Trust is a measure of the return to the
investor expected  to  be earned  over  the estimated  life  of the  Trust.  The
Estimated  Long Term Return represents an average  of the yields to maturity (or
call) of  the Bonds  in  the Trust's  portfolio  calculated in  accordance  with
accepted bond practice and adjusted to reflect expenses and sales charges. Under
accepted bond practice, tax-exempt bonds are customarily offered to investors on
a  "yield price" basis, which involves computation of yield to maturity or to an
earlier call date  (whichever produces the  lower yield), and  which takes  into
account  not only the interest payable on the bonds but also the amortization or
accretion of  any premium  over,  or discount  from,  the par  (maturity)  value
inherent in the bond's purchase price. In the calculation of Estimated Long Term
Return, the average yield for the Trust's portfolio is derived by weighting each
Bond's yield by the market value of the Bond and by the amount of time remaining
to  the date to  which the Bond is  priced. This weighted  average yield is then
adjusted to  reflect estimated  expenses, is  compounded, and  is reduced  by  a
factor  which represents the amortization of  the sales charge over the expected
average life of the Trust. The  Estimated Long Term Return calculation does  not
take  into account the effect  of a first distribution which  may be less than a
regular distribution or may  be paid at  some point after 30  days (or a  second
distribution  which may be  less than a normal  distribution for Unitholders who
choose quarterly or  semi-annual plans of  distribution), and it  also does  not
take into account the difference in timing of payments to Unitholders who choose
quarterly  or semi-annual plans  of distribution, each of  which will reduce the
return.
 
    Estimated Current Return  is computed  by dividing the  Net Annual  Interest
Income per Unit by the Public Offering Price. In contrast to Estimated Long Term
Return, Estimated Current Return does not reflect the amortization of premium or
accretion of discount, if any, on the Bonds in the Trust's portfolio. Net Annual
Interest Income per Unit is calculated by dividing the annual interest income to
the Trust, less estimated expenses, by the number of Units outstanding.
 
    Net  Annual Interest  Income per Unit,  used to  calculate Estimated Current
Return, will vary  with changes  in fees  and expenses  of the  Trustee and  the
Evaluator  and  with the  redemption,  maturity, exchange  or  sale of  Bonds. A
Unitholder's actual return may vary  significantly from the Estimated  Long-Term
Return,  based  on their  holding period,  market  interest rate  changes, other
factors  affecting  the  prices  of  individual  bonds  in  the  portfolio,  and
differences  between  the expected  remaining life  of  portfolio bonds  and the
actual length of time that they remain in the Trust; such actual holding periods
may be reduced by termination of the Trust, as described in "OTHER INFORMATION."
Since both  the Estimated  Current Return  and the  Estimated Long  Term  Return
quoted  herein are  based on  the market  value of  the underlying  Bonds on the
business day prior  to the  Date of  Deposit, subsequent  calculations of  these
performance  measures  will  reflect  the  then  current  market  value  of  the
underlying Bonds and may be higher or lower. The Sponsor will provide  estimated
cash  flow  information relating  to a  Trust without  charge to  each potential
investor in a Trust who  receives this prospectus and  makes an oral or  written
request to the Sponsor for such information.
 
    A  portion of the  monies received by a  Trust may be  treated, in the first
year only, as a return of principal due to the inclusion in the Trust  portfolio
of  "when-issued"  or  other  Bonds  having delivery  dates  after  the  date of
settlement for purchases  made on  the Date of  Deposit. A  consequence of  this
treatment  is that in the computation of  Estimated Current Return for the first
year, such monies are excluded from Net Annual Interest Income and treated as an
adjustment to the Public Offering Price. (See "Essential Information"  appearing
in  Part A  of this  Prospectus, "COMPOSITION  OF TRUSTS"  and "WHAT  IS THE TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?")
 
    A comparison of  tax-free and equivalent  taxable estimated current  returns
with  the returns on various  taxable investments is one  element to consider in
making an  investment  decision.  The Sponsor  may  from  time to  time  in  its
advertising  and sales materials compare the then current estimated returns on a
Trust and returns  over specified periods  on other similar  Nuveen Trusts  with
returns  on taxable investments such as corporate or U.S. Government bonds, bank
CD's and  money  market  accounts or  money  market  funds, each  of  which  has
investment  characteristics  that  may  differ from  those  of  the  Trust. U.S.
Government bonds, for example, are  backed by the full  faith and credit of  the
U.S. Government and bank CD's and money market accounts are insured by an agency
of  the federal government. Money market accounts and money market funds provide
stability of principal, but pay interest  at rates that vary with the  condition
of  the short-term debt market. The investment characteristics of the Trusts are
described more fully elsewhere in the Prospectus.
 
HOW WAS THE PRICE OF THE BONDS DETERMINED AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT?
 
The prices at which the Bonds deposited in the Trusts would have been offered to
the public on the business day prior  to the Date of Deposit were determined  by
the  Trustee on the basis  of an evaluation of such  Bonds prepared by Kenny S&P
Evaluation Services,  a division  of J.  J. Kenny  Co., Inc.,  a firm  regularly
engaged  in the business of evaluating,  quoting or appraising comparable bonds.
With respect to Bonds in Insured Trusts and insured Bonds in Traditional Trusts,
Kenny S&P Evaluation Services,  a division of J.  J. Kenny Co., Inc.,  evaluated
the Bonds as so insured. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?".)
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    The  amount by which  the Trustee's determination of  the OFFERING PRICES of
the Bonds deposited  in the Trusts  was greater or  less than the  cost of  such
Bonds  to  the  Sponsor was  PROFIT  OR LOSS  to  the Sponsor  exclusive  of any
underwriting profit.  (See Part  A of  this Prospectus.)  The Sponsor  also  may
realize  FURTHER PROFIT OR SUSTAIN  FURTHER LOSS as a  result of fluctuations in
the Public Offering  Price of the  Units. Cash,  if any, made  available to  the
Sponsor  prior to the settlement  date for a purchase of  Units, or prior to the
acquisition of all Portfolio securities by a Trust, may be available for use  in
the Sponsor's business, and may be of benefit to the Sponsor.
 
WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?
 
At  the respective  times of  issuance of  the Bonds,  opinions relating  to the
validity thereof and to  the exemption of interest  thereon from Federal  income
tax  were rendered  by bond  counsel to  the respective  issuing authorities. In
addition, with respect to  State Trusts, where applicable,  bond counsel to  the
issuing  authorities rendered opinions  as to the exemption  of interest on such
Bonds, when held by residents  of the state in which  the issuers of such  Bonds
are  located, from state income taxes and certain state or local intangibles and
local income taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of State Trusts see  Part
A  of this Prospectus. Neither the Sponsor nor its counsel have made any special
review for the Trusts of the proceedings  relating to the issuance of the  Bonds
or  of  the basis  for the  opinions  rendered in  connection therewith.  If the
interest on a Bond should be determined to be taxable, the Bond would  generally
have  to be  sold at  a substantial  discount. In  addition, investors  could be
required to pay  income tax  on interest  received prior  to the  date of  which
interest is determined to be taxable.
 
    Federally  tax-exempt income, including income on  Units of the Trusts, will
be taken into consideration in computing the portion, if any, of social security
benefits received that will be included in a taxpayer's gross income subject  to
the Federal income tax.
 
    Gain  realized on the sale or redemption of the Bonds by the Trustee or of a
Unit by  a Unitholder  is includable  in  gross income  for Federal  income  tax
purposes,  and may be includable  in gross income for  state tax purposes. (Such
gain does not  include any  amounts received  in respect  of tax-exempt  accrued
interest   or  accrued  original  issue  discount,  if  any.)  A  portion  of  a
Unitholder's gain, to the extent of accreted market discount, may be treated  as
ordinary  income rather than capital gain if the Bonds were purchased by a Trust
at a market discount or if the Unitholder purchased his or her Units at a market
discount on or  after April 30,  1993. Market  discount can arise  based on  the
price the Trust pays for the Bonds or the price a Unitholder pays for his or her
Units.  Market discount  that accretes  while the  Trust holds  a Bond  would be
recognized as ordinary  income by  the Unitholders when  principal payments  are
received  on the Bond, upon sale  or at redemption (including early redemption),
or upon the sale or redemption of  his or her Units, unless a Unitholder  elects
to  include market discount in taxable income as it accrues. The market discount
rules are complex and  Unitholders should consult  their tax advisors  regarding
these rules and their application.
 
    In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, Counsel to the Sponsor, under existing
law:
 
    (1) the  Trusts  are not  associations taxable  as corporations  for Federal
        income tax purposes. Tax-exempt interest received by each of the  Trusts
        on  Bonds  deposited  therein  will  retain  its  status  as  tax-exempt
        interest, for Federal income tax  purposes, when received by the  Trusts
        and  when distributed  to the  Unitholders, except  that the alternative
        minimum tax and  environmental tax (the  "Superfund Tax") applicable  to
        corporate  Unitholders  may, in  certain  circumstances, include  in the
        amount on which  such taxes  are calculated  a portion  of the  interest
        income  received by  the Trust. See  "CERTAIN TAX  MATTERS APPLICABLE TO
        CORPORATE UNITHOLDERS", below;
 
    (2) each Unitholder of a Trust is considered  to be the owner of a pro  rata
        portion  of such Trust under Subpart E, subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") and will have a taxable event
        when the Trust  disposes of  a Bond or  when the  Unitholder redeems  or
        sells  Units. Unitholders must  reduce the tax basis  of their Units for
        their share of accrued interest received by the Trust, if any, on  Bonds
        delivered  after  the  date the  Unitholders  pay for  their  Units and,
        consequently, such Unitholders may have  an increase in taxable gain  or
        reduction  in capital loss  upon the disposition of  such Units. Gain or
        loss upon the sale or redemption  of Units is measured by comparing  the
        proceeds  of  such sale  or redemption  with the  adjusted basis  of the
        Units. If the  Trustee disposes of  Bonds (whether by  sale, payment  at
        maturity,  redemption or otherwise),  gain or loss  is recognized to the
        Unitholder. The amount of any such gain or loss is measured by comparing
        the Unitholder's  pro  rata  share  of  the  total  proceeds  from  such
        disposition  with  the  Unitholder's  basis for  his  or  her fractional
        interest in  the asset  disposed of.  In the  case of  a Unitholder  who
        purchases Units, such basis (before adjustment for earned original issue
        discount   and  amortized  bond  premium,   if  any)  is  determined  by
        apportioning the  cost of  the  Units among  each  of the  Trust  assets
        ratably  according to value as of the  date of acquisition of the Units.
        The  tax  cost   reduction  requirements  of   said  Code  relating   to
        amortization  of bond premium  may, under some  circumstances, result in
        the Unitholder realizing a taxable gain  when his or her Units are  sold
        or redeemed for an amount equal to their original cost; and
 
    (3) any  amounts paid on defaulted Bonds  held by the Trustee under policies
        of insurance issued with respect to  such Bonds will be excludable  from
        Federal  gross income if, and to the same extent as, such interest would
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
        have been so excludable if paid by the respective issuer provided  that,
        at  the  time such  policies are  purchased, the  amounts paid  for such
        policies are reasonable,  customary and consistent  with the  reasonable
        expectation  that the issuer of the bonds, rather than the insurer, will
        pay debt  service  on  the  bonds. Paragraph  (2)  of  this  opinion  is
        accordingly   applicable  to   policy  proceeds   representing  maturing
        interest.
 
In the opinion of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, counsel to the Trustee, and, in the
absence of a New York Trust from the Series, special counsel for the Series  for
New York tax matters, under existing law:
 
        Under  the income tax laws of the State and City of New York, each Trust
    is not an association taxable as a corporation and the income of each  Trust
    will be treated as the income of the Unitholders.
 
    For  a summary of  each opinion of  special counsel to  the respective State
Trusts for state tax matters, see Part A of this Prospectus.
 
    ALL STATEMENTS IN THE PROSPECTUS CONCERNING EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL, STATE OR
OTHER TAXES ARE THE OPINION OF COUNSEL AND ARE TO BE SO CONSTRUED.
 
    The Internal Revenue Code provides that interest on indebtedness incurred or
continued to purchase  or carry  obligations, the  interest on  which is  wholly
exempt  from Federal income taxes, is not deductible. Because each Unitholder is
treated for Federal income tax purposes as the owner of a pro rata share of  the
Bonds owned by the applicable Trust, interest on borrowed funds used to purchase
or  carry Units  of such  Trust will  not be  deductible for  Federal income tax
purposes. Under rules used by the Internal Revenue Service for determining  when
borrowed  funds are  considered used for  the purpose of  purchasing or carrying
particular assets, the  purchase of Units  may be considered  to have been  made
with borrowed funds even though the borrowed funds are not directly traceable to
the  purchase of Units (however, these rules  generally do not apply to interest
paid on  indebtedness incurred  to purchase  or improve  a personal  residence).
Similar  rules are  generally applicable for  state tax  purposes. Special rules
apply in  the  case  of  certain  financial  institutions  that  acquire  Units.
Investors  with questions regarding  these issues should  consult with their tax
advisers.
 
    For purposes of computing  the alternative minimum  tax for individuals  and
corporations, interest on certain specified tax-exempt private activity bonds is
included as a preference item. The Trusts do not include any such bonds.
 
    CERTAIN  TAX MATTERS  APPLICABLE TO  CORPORATE UNITHOLDERS.  In the  case of
certain corporations, the alternative minimum  tax and the Superfund Tax  depend
upon the corporation's alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI"), which is the
corporation's  taxable income  with certain  adjustments. One  of the adjustment
items used in computing AMTI and the Superfund Tax of a corporation (other  than
an S corporation, Regulated Investment Company, Real Estate Investment Trust, or
REMIC)  is an amount equal to 75%  of the excess of such corporation's "adjusted
current earnings" over an amount equal to its AMTI (before such adjustment  item
and  the  alternative tax  net  operation loss  deduction).  Although tax-exempt
interest received by each of the Trusts  on Bonds deposited therein will not  be
included  in the gross  income of corporations for  Federal income tax purposes,
"adjusted current earnings" includes all tax-exempt interest, including interest
on all Bonds in the Trust and tax-exempt original issue discount.
 
    Corporate Unitholders  are urged  to  consult their  own tax  advisers  with
respect  to the particular tax consequences  to them resulting under the Federal
tax law, including the corporate alternative minimum tax, the Superfund Tax  and
the branch profits tax imposed by Section 884 of the Code.
 
    EXCEPT  AS NOTED ABOVE  AND IN PART  A OF THIS  PROSPECTUS, THE EXEMPTION OF
INTEREST ON STATE AND LOCAL OBLIGATIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES DOES NOT
NECESSARILY RESULT IN EXEMPTION UNDER THE INCOME OR OTHER TAX LAWS OF ANY  STATE
OR  CITY. THE LAWS  OF THE SEVERAL STATES  VARY WITH RESPECT  TO THE TAXATION OF
SUCH OBLIGATIONS.
 
WHAT ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?
 
No annual advisory  fee is charged  to the  Trusts by the  Sponsor. The  Sponsor
does,  however, receive a fee as set  forth in "Essential Information" in Part A
of this  Prospectus  for regularly  evaluating  the Bonds  and  for  maintaining
surveillance over the portfolio. (See "UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION.")
 
    The  Trustee receives for ordinary recurring services an annual fee for each
plan of distribution  for each  Trust as  set forth  in "Essential  Information"
appearing  in Part A of this Prospectus. Each annual fee is per $1,000 principal
amount of the underlying  Bonds in a  Trust for that portion  of the Trust  that
represents  a  particular  plan  of  distribution.  The  Trustee's  fee  may  be
periodically adjusted in response to  fluctuations in short-term interest  rates
(reflecting  the  cost to  the Trustee  of advancing  funds to  a Trust  to meet
scheduled distributions)  and may  be further  adjusted in  accordance with  the
cumulative  percentage  increase  of  the United  States  Department  of Labor's
Consumer Price Index  entitled "All  Services Less  Rent of  Shelter" since  the
establishment  of the Trusts.  The Trustee has  the use of  funds, if any, being
held  in  the  Interest  and  Principal  Accounts  of  each  Trust  for   future
distributions,   payment  of  expenses  and   redemptions.  These  Accounts  are
non-interest bearing to Unitholders. Pursuant to normal banking procedures,  the
Trustee  benefits from  the use  of funds  held therein.  Part of  the Trustee's
compensation for its services to the Fund is expected to result from such use of
these funds.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
    Premiums for the  policies of insurance  obtained by the  Sponsor or by  the
Bond issuers with respect to the Bonds in the Insured Trusts and with respect to
insured  Bonds in Traditional Trusts have been paid in full prior to the deposit
of the Bonds in the Trusts, and the value of such insurance has been included in
the evaluation of the Bonds in each Trust and accordingly in the Public Offering
Price of Units of each Trust. There  are no annual continuing premiums for  such
insurance.
 
    All  or  a portion  of  the expenses  incurred  in establishing  the Trusts,
including costs of preparing the registration statement, the trust indenture and
other closing  documents, registering  Units with  the Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  and states, the  initial audit of each  Trust portfolio, legal fees,
the initial  fees  and  expenses  of the  Trustee  and  any  other  non-material
out-of-pocket  expenses, will be paid by the Trusts and amortized over the first
five years of such Trusts. The  following are additional expenses of the  Trusts
and,  when paid  by or are  owed to the  Trustee, are  secured by a  lien on the
assets of the  Trust or Trusts  to which  such expenses are  allocable: (1)  the
expenses and costs of any action undertaken by the Trustee to protect the Trusts
and  the  rights and  interests  of the  Unitholders;  (2) all  taxes  and other
governmental charges upon the Bonds or any part of the Trusts (no such taxes  or
charges  are  being  levied  or  made  or,  to  the  knowledge  of  the Sponsor,
contemplated); (3) amounts payable to the Trustee as fees for ordinary recurring
services and for extraordinary non-recurring  services rendered pursuant to  the
Indenture, all disbursements and expenses including counsel fees (including fees
of  bond counsel  which the  Trustee may  retain) sustained  or incurred  by the
Trustee in connection therewith; and (4)  any losses or liabilities accruing  to
the Trustee without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part. The
Trustee  is empowered to sell  Bonds in order to pay  these amounts if funds are
not otherwise available in the applicable Interest and Principal Accounts.
 
    The Indenture requires each Trust  to be audited on  an annual basis at  the
expense  of the Trust by independent public accountants selected by the Sponsor.
The Trustee  shall not  be  required, however,  to cause  such  an audit  to  be
performed  if its cost to a Trust shall exceed $.05 per Unit on an annual basis.
Unitholders of a  Trust covered by  an audit may  obtain a copy  of the  audited
financial statements upon request.
 
WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?
 
Interest received by the Trustee on the Bonds in each Trust, including that part
of  the proceeds of  any disposition of Bonds  which represents accrued interest
and including  any insurance  proceeds representing  interest due  on  defaulted
Bonds,  shall be credited to the "Interest  Account" of such Trust and all other
moneys received by the Trustee shall  be credited to the "Principal Account"  of
such Trust.
 
    The  pro rata share of  cash in the Principal Account  in each Trust will be
computed as of each semi-annual Record Date and distributions to the Unitholders
as of such Record Date will be made on or shortly after the fifteenth day of the
month. Proceeds received from the disposition, including sale, call or maturity,
of any of the Bonds and all amounts  paid with respect to zero coupon bonds  and
Stripped  Obligations will be held  in the Principal Account  and either used to
pay for Units  redeemed or distributed  on the Distribution  Date following  the
next semi-annual Record Date. The Trustee is not required to make a distribution
from  the  Principal  Account  of  any Trust  unless  the  amount  available for
distribution in such account equals at least ten cents per Unit.
 
    The pro rata share of the Interest Account in each Trust will be computed by
the Trustee each month as of each Record Date and distributions will be made  on
or  shortly after the fifteenth day of the month to Unitholders of such Trust as
of the Record Date who are entitled to distributions at that time under the plan
of distribution chosen. Persons who purchase  Units between a Record Date and  a
Distribution Date will receive their first distribution on the Distribution Date
following the next Record Date under the applicable plan of distribution.
 
    Purchasers  of  Units  who desire  to  receive interest  distributions  on a
monthly or quarterly basis may elect to do so at the time of purchase during the
initial public offering  period. Those indicating  no choice will  be deemed  to
have  chosen the  semi-annual distribution  plan. All  Unitholders, however, who
purchase Units during the  initial public offering period  and who hold them  of
record on the first Record Date will receive the first distribution of interest.
Thereafter, Record Dates for monthly distributions will be the first day of each
month;  Record  Dates  for quarterly  distributions  will  be the  first  day of
February,  May,  August   and  November;  and   Record  Dates  for   semi-annual
distributions  will be  the first day  of May and  November. See Part  A of this
Prospectus for details of distributions per Unit of each Trust under the various
plans based upon estimated  Net Annual Interest Income  at the Date of  Deposit.
The  amount of  the regular distributions  will generally change  when Bonds are
redeemed, mature or are sold or when fees and expenses increase or decrease. For
the purpose of minimizing  fluctuations in the  distributions from the  Interest
Account  of a Trust, the Trustee is authorized to advance such amounts as may be
necessary to provide for interest distributions of approximately equal  amounts.
The  Trustee shall be  reimbursed, without interest, for  any such advances from
funds in  the Interest  Account of  such  Trust. The  Trustee's fee  takes  into
account  the costs  attributable to  the outlay of  capital needed  to make such
advances.
 
    The plan of  distribution selected  by a  Unitholder will  remain in  effect
until  changed.  Unitholders  purchasing  Units  in  the  secondary  market will
initially receive distributions  in accordance  with the election  of the  prior
owner.  Unitholders desiring to change  their plan of distribution  may do so by
sending  a   written   notice  requesting   the   change,  together   with   any
Certificate(s),  to  the  Trustee. The  notice  and any  Certificate(s)  must be
received by the
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
Trustee not later than  the semi-annual Record  Date to be  effective as of  the
semi-annual  distribution  following  the  subsequent  semi-annual  Record Date.
Unitholders are requested to make any such  changes within 45 days prior to  the
applicable  Record  Date.  Certificates should  only  be sent  by  registered or
certified mail to minimize the possibility  of their being lost or stolen.  (See
"OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS.")
 
    As  of the first day of each month the Trustee will deduct from the Interest
Account of a Trust or, to the extent funds are not sufficient therein, from  the
Principal  Account of a  Trust, amounts needed  for payment of  expenses of such
Trust. The Trustee also may withdraw from said accounts such amount, if any,  as
it  deems necessary to establish a  reserve for any governmental charges payable
out of such Trust. Amounts  so withdrawn shall not be  considered a part of  the
Trust's  assets until such time  as the Trustee shall return  all or any part of
such amounts to the appropriate account. In addition, the Trustee shall withdraw
from the Interest Account and the Principal  Account of a Trust such amounts  as
may  be necessary to  cover redemptions of  Units of such  Trust by the Trustee.
Funds which are available for  future distributions, redemptions and payment  of
expenses  are held in accounts which are non-interest bearing to Unitholders and
are available for use by the Trustee pursuant to normal banking procedures.
 
ACCUMULATION PLAN
 
The Sponsor  is  also  the  principal  underwriter  of  the  Accumulation  Funds
described  in  the  following  table.  Each  of  these  funds  is  an  open-end,
diversified management investment company into  which Unitholders may choose  to
reinvest   Trust   distributions  automatically,   without  any   sales  charge.
(Reinvestment generally is available  only to Unitholders  who are residents  of
the  states for which such portfolios  are named.) Unitholders may reinvest both
interest and  principal  distributions  or principal  distributions  only.  Each
Accumulation  Fund has  investment objectives  which differ  in certain respects
from those  of the  Trusts  and may  invest in  securities  which would  not  be
eligible  for deposit in the Trusts. The investment adviser to each Accumulation
Fund is Nuveen Advisory Corp., a  wholly-owned subsidiary of the Sponsor. For  a
more  detailed description,  Unitholders of  each Accumulation  Fund should read
carefully the prospectus of the Accumulation Fund in which they are  interested.
For  additional information concerning the Accumulation Plan see the Information
Supplement of this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      ACCUMULATION FUND                                            GENERAL FUND DESCRIPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>
Nuveen Municipal Bond Fund                                      Tax-exempt  income   by  investing   in  long-term   municipal
                                                                securities.
Nuveen  Tax-Free  Reserves,  Inc.  and  Nuveen  Tax-Free Money
Market Fund, Inc.:
Nuveen Massachusetts  Tax-Free Money  Market Fund  Nuveen  New  Tax-exempt  and in certain cases double and triple tax- exempt
York Tax-Free Money Market Fund                                 "money market" funds with checkwriting privileges.
Nuveen California Tax-Free Fund:
Nuveen California Tax-Free Value Fund                           Double tax-exempt income by investing in long-term  investment
                                                                grade California tax-exempt securities.
Nuveen California Insured Tax-Free Value Fund                   Double  tax-exempt income  by investing  in insured California
                                                                tax-exempt securities.
Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund                    California tax-exempt  "money market"  fund with  checkwriting
                                                                privileges.
Nuveen  Tax-Free  Bond Fund,  Inc.  and the  Nuveen Multistate
Tax-Free Trust:
Nuveen Massachusetts  Tax-Free  Value Fund,  Nuveen  New  York  Double  and  in  certain  cases  triple  tax-exempt  income by
Tax-Free Value Fund, Nuveen  Ohio Tax-Free Value Fund,  Nuveen  investing  in tax-exempt securities in the state for which the
New Jersey Tax-Free Value Fund, Nuveen Arizona Tax-Free  Value  portfolio is named.
Fund,  Nuveen  Florida  Tax-Free Value  Fund,  Nuveen Maryland
Tax-Free Value  Fund,  Nuveen Michigan  Tax-Free  Value  Fund,
Nuveen  Pennsylvania Tax-Free  Value Fund  and Nuveen Virginia
Tax-Free Value Fund
Nuveen Insured Tax-Free Bond Fund, Inc.:
Nuveen  Insured  Municipal  Bond  Fund,  Nuveen  Massachusetts  Tax-exempt  and in certain cases double and triple tax- exempt
Insured Tax-Free Value  Fund and the  Nuveen New York  Insured  funds  investing in insured tax-exempt securities in the state
Tax-Free Value Fund.                                            for which the portfolio is named.
</TABLE>
 
Shareholder Services, Inc.  will mail  to each participant  in the  Accumulation
Plan  a quarterly  statement containing a  record of  all transactions involving
purchases of Accumulation Fund shares (or fractions thereof) with Trust interest
distributions or as a result of reinvestment of Accumulation Fund dividends. Any
distribution of principal used
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
to purchase  shares of  an Accumulation  Fund will  be separately  confirmed  by
Shareholder Services, Inc. Unitholders will also receive distribution statements
from  the Trustee detailing  the amounts transferred  to their Accumulation Fund
accounts.
 
Participants may at any time, by so  notifying the Trustee in writing, elect  to
change   the  Accumulation  Fund  into   which  their  distributions  are  being
reinvested, to change from principal  only reinvestment to reinvestment of  both
principal and interest or vice versa, or to terminate their participation in the
Accumulation  Plan altogether and receive future distributions on their Units in
cash. There will be no  charge or other penalty for  such change of election  or
termination.  The character of Trust distributions  for income tax purposes will
remain unchanged even if they are reinvested in an Accumulation Fund.
 
HOW DETAILED ARE REPORTS TO UNITHOLDERS?
 
The Trustee  shall  furnish Unitholders  of  a  Trust in  connection  with  each
distribution,  a statement of the amount of  interest, if any, and the amount of
other receipts (received  since the preceding  distribution) being  distributed,
expressed  in each case  as a dollar  amount representing the  pro rata share of
each Unit of a Trust outstanding and a year to date summary of all distributions
paid on said Units.  Within a reasonable  period of time after  the end of  each
calendar  year, the Trustee shall furnish to  each person who at any time during
the calendar  year was  a registered  Unitholder  of a  Trust a  statement  with
respect  to  such  Trust  (i)  as to  the  Interest  Account:  interest received
(including amounts  representing  interest  received  upon  any  disposition  of
Bonds),  and, except  for any  State Trust, the  percentage of  such interest by
states in which the issuers  of the Bonds are  located, deductions for fees  and
expenses of such Trust, redemption of Units and the balance remaining after such
distributions  and deductions,  expressed in  each case  both as  a total dollar
amount and as  a dollar  amount representing  the pro  rata share  of each  Unit
outstanding  on the  last business  day of  such calendar  year; (ii)  as to the
Principal Account: the dates  of disposition of any  Bonds and the net  proceeds
received  therefrom (excluding  any portion representing  accrued interest), the
amount paid for purchase of Replacement  Bonds, the amount paid upon  redemption
of  Units, deductions for payment  of applicable taxes and  fees and expenses of
the Trustee, and the balance  remaining after such distributions and  deductions
expressed  both as a total dollar amount and as a dollar amount representing the
pro rata  share of  each  Unit outstanding  on the  last  business day  of  such
calendar  year;  (iii)  a  list  of  the Bonds  held  and  the  number  of Units
outstanding on the last business day of such calendar year; (iv) the Unit  Value
based  upon the last computation thereof made during such calendar year; and (v)
amounts actually distributed during such calendar year from the Interest Account
and from  the Principal  Account,  separately stated,  expressed both  as  total
dollar  amounts and as  dollar amounts representing  the pro rata  share of each
Unit outstanding. Each  annual statement will  reflect pertinent information  in
respect  of  all  plans of  distribution  so  that Unitholders  may  be informed
regarding the results of other plans of distribution.
 
UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION
 
The value of each  Trust is determined by  the Sponsor on the  basis of (1)  the
cash  on hand in the Trust or moneys  in the process of being collected, (2) the
value of the Bonds  in the Trust based  on the BID prices  of the Bonds and  (3)
interest   accrued  thereon  not   subject  to  collection,   LESS  (1)  amounts
representing taxes or governmental charges payable out of the Trust and (2)  the
accrued  expenses of the Trust. The result of such computation is divided by the
number of Units of such  Trust outstanding as of  the date thereof to  determine
the  per Unit value ("Unit Value") of  such Trust. The Sponsor may determine the
value of the Bonds in each Trust (1)  on the basis of current BID prices of  the
Bonds  obtained from dealers or brokers who customarily deal in bonds comparable
to those held by the Trust, (2) if  bid prices are not available for any of  the
Bonds, on the basis of bid prices for comparable bonds, (3) by causing the value
of  the Bonds to be determined by  others engaged in the practice of evaluating,
quoting or appraising comparable bonds or  (4) by any combination of the  above.
Although  the Unit Value of each Trust is  based on the BID prices of the Bonds,
the Units are sold initially to the public at the Public Offering Price based on
the OFFERING prices of the Bonds.
 
    Because the insurance  obtained by the  Sponsor or by  the issuers of  Bonds
with  respect to  the Bonds in  the Insured  Trusts and with  respect to insured
Bonds in Traditional Trusts is effective so long as such Bonds are  outstanding,
such  insurance will be taken  into account in determining  the bid and offering
prices of such  Bonds and therefore  some value attributable  to such  insurance
will be included in the value of Units of Trusts that include such Bonds.
 
HOW UNITS OF THE TRUSTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated is the Sponsor and sole Underwriter of the Units.
It  is  the  intention  of  the  Sponsor  to  qualify  Units  of  National, Long
Intermediate, Intermediate, Short  Intermediate and Short  Term Trusts for  sale
under  the  laws of  substantially all  of the  states of  the United  States of
America, and Units  of State Trusts  only in the  state for which  the Trust  is
named and selected other states.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
    Promptly following the deposit of Bonds in exchange for Units of the Trusts,
it  is the practice of the Sponsor to place all of the Units as collateral for a
letter or letters of credit from one or more commercial banks under an agreement
to release such Units from time to  time as needed for distribution. Under  such
an  arrangement  the Sponsor  pays  such banks  compensation  based on  the then
current interest  rate. This  is  a normal  warehousing arrangement  during  the
period  of  distribution of  the Units  to public  investors. To  facilitate the
handling of  transactions,  sales of  Units  shall be  limited  to  transactions
involving a minimum of either $5,000 or 50 Units, whichever is less. The Sponsor
reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any order for the purchase of
Units.
 
    The  Sponsor plans to allow a discount  to brokers and dealers in connection
with  the  primary  distribution   of  Units  and   also  in  secondary   market
transactions. The primary market discounts are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         DISCOUNT PER UNIT
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
                                 NATIONAL    LONG INTER-                  SHORT INTER-
                                AND STATE      MEDIATE     INTERMEDIATE      MEDIATE     SHORT TERM
NUMBER OF UNITS*                  TRUSTS       TRUSTS         TRUSTS         TRUSTS        TRUSTS
------------------------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -----------
Less than 500.................    $3.20         $2.90          $2.70          $2.00         $1.50
500 but less than 1,000.......     3.20         2.90           2.70           2.00          1.50
1,000 but less than 2,500.....     3.20         2.70           2.50           1.80          1.30
2,500 but less than 5,000.....     3.20         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
5,000 but less than 10,000....     2.50         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
10,000 but less than 25,000...     2.00         2.00           2.00           1.30           .80
25,000 but less than 50,000...     1.75         1.75           1.75           1.30           .60
50,000 or more................     1.75         1.50           1.50           1.00           .60
</TABLE>
 
*Breakpoint  sales charges and related dealer concessions are computed both on a
 dollar basis and  on the  basis of  the number  of Units  purchased, using  the
 equivalent  of 500 Units to  $50,000, 2,500 Units to  $250,000 etc. and will be
 applied on that basis which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The Sponsor currently intends  to maintain a secondary  market for Units  of
each  Trust. See  "MARKET FOR  UNITS." The  amount of  the dealer  concession on
secondary market purchases of Trust Units  through the Sponsor will be  computed
based  upon the value of  the Bonds in the  Trust portfolio, including the sales
charge computed as described in "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE  DETERMINED?",
and  adjusted to reflect the  cash position of the  Trust principal account, and
will vary with the size of the purchase as shown in the following table:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               AMOUNT OF PURCHASE*
                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>
                                        $50,000   $100,000   $250,000   $500,000   $1,000,000  $2,500,000
                              UNDER       TO         TO         TO         TO          TO          TO      $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY            $50,000    $99,999   $249,999   $499,999   $999,999   $2,499,999  $4,999,999   OR MORE
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Less than 1...............      0          0          0          0          0          0           0           0
1 but less than 2.........    1.00%      .90%       .85%       .80%       .70%        .55%       .467%       .389%
2 but less than 3.........    1.30%      1.20%      1.10%      1.00%      .90%        .73%       .634%       .538%
3 but less than 4.........    1.60%      1.45%      1.35%      1.25%      1.10%       .90%       .781%       .662%
4 but less than 5.........    2.00%      1.85%      1.75%      1.55%      1.40%      1.25%       1.082%      .914%
5 but less than 7.........    2.30%      2.15%      1.95%      1.80%      1.65%      1.50%       1.320%      1.140%
7 but less than 10........    2.60%      2.45%      2.25%      2.10%      1.95%      1.70%       1.496%      1.292%
10 but less than 13.......    3.00%      2.80%      2.60%      2.45%      2.30%      2.00%       1.747%      1.494%
13 but less than 16.......    3.25%      3.15%      3.00%      2.75%      2.50%      2.15%       1.878%      1.606%
16 or more................    3.50%      3.50%      3.40%      3.35%      3.00%      2.50%       2.185%      1.873%
</TABLE>
 
 *Breakpoint sales charges and related dealer concessions are computed both on a
  dollar basis and  on the basis  of the  number of Units  purchased, using  the
  equivalent of 500 Units to $50,000, 2,500 Units to $250,000, etc., and will be
  applied on that basis which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The  Sponsor reserves the  right to change  the foregoing dealer concessions
from time to time.
 
    Registered investment advisers, certified financial planners and  registered
broker-dealers  who  in  each case  either  charge periodic  fees  for financial
planning, investment  advisory or  asset management  services, or  provide  such
services in connection with the establishment of an investment account for which
a  comprehensive  "wrap  fee"  charge is  imposed,  and  bank  trust departments
investing funds  over which  they  exercise exclusive  discretionary  investment
authority  and  that  are held  in  a  fiduciary, agency,  custodial  or similar
capacity, are  not entitled  to receive  any dealer  concession for  primary  or
secondary market purchases in which an investor purchases any number of Units at
the  Public Offering Price for non-breakpoint purchases minus the concession the
sponsor typically allows  to brokers  and dealers  for non-breakpoint  purchases
(see "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?").
 
    Certain  commercial banks are making Units  of the Trusts available to their
customers on  an agency  basis. A  portion of  the sales  charge paid  by  these
customers  is retained by or  remitted to the banks in  the amounts shown in the
above table.  The Glass-Steagall  Act prohibits  banks from  underwriting  Trust
Units;  the Act  does, however, permit  certain agency  transactions and banking
regulators  have  not  indicated  that  these  particular  agency   transactions
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
are  not permitted under the Act. In Texas and in certain other states, any bank
making Units available must be registered as a broker-dealer under state law.
 
OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS
 
The ownership of  Units is  evidenced by book  entry positions  recorded on  the
books  and records of the Trustee  unless the Unitholder expressly requests that
the purchased Units be evidenced in Certificate form. The Trustee is  authorized
to treat as the owner of Units that person who at the time is registered as such
on  the books of the Trustee. Any  Unitholder who holds a Certificate may change
to book entry ownership by submitting to the Trustee the Certificate along  with
a written request that the Units represented by such Certificate be held in book
entry form. Likewise, a Unitholder who holds Units in book entry form may obtain
a  Certificate for such  Units by written  request to the  Trustee. Units may be
held in denominations of one Unit or any multiple or fraction thereof. Fractions
of Units are computed to three  decimal places. Any Certificates issued will  be
numbered  serially for identification, and are  issued in fully registered form,
transferable only  on the  books of  the Trustee.  Book entry  Unitholders  will
receive a Book Entry Position Confirmation reflecting their ownership.
 
   
    For  Trusts allowing optional plans  of distribution, Certificates for Units
will bear  an  appropriate notation  on  their  face indicating  which  plan  of
distribution has been selected. When a change is made, the existing Certificates
must  be surrendered to the  Trustee and new Certificates  issued to reflect the
currently effective  plan of  distribution. There  will be  no charge  for  this
service.  Holders of book entry  Units can change their  plan of distribution by
making a written  request to  the Trustee,  which will  issue a  new Book  Entry
Position Confirmation to reflect such change.
    
 
    Units  are transferable by making  a written request to  the Trustee and, in
the case of Units  evidenced by Certificate(s),  by presenting and  surrendering
such  Certificate(s) to the Trustee, at its  address listed on the back cover of
this Part B  of the Prospectus,  properly endorsed or  accompanied by a  written
instrument  or  instruments  of  transfer.  The  Certificate(s)  should  be sent
registered or  certified  mail  for  the  protection  of  the  Unitholder.  Each
Unitholder  must sign such written request,  and such Certificate(s) or transfer
instrument, exactly as his  name appears on (a)  the face of the  Certificate(s)
representing  the  Units  to be  transferred,  or  (b) the  Book  Entry Position
Confirmation(s) relating to the Units to be transferred. Such signature(s)  must
be guaranteed by a guarantor acceptable to the Trustee. In certain instances the
Trustee  may require  additional documents  such as,  but not  limited to, trust
instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor or administrator or
certificates of corporate authority. Mutilated Certificates must be  surrendered
to  the Trustee in order for a replacement Certificate to be issued. Although at
the date hereof no charge is made and none is contemplated, a Unitholder may  be
required  to pay $2.00 to the Trustee  for each Certificate reissued or transfer
of Units requested and to  pay any governmental charge  which may be imposed  in
connection therewith.
 
REPLACEMENT OF LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES.
 
    To  obtain a new  Certificate replacing one  that has been  lost, stolen, or
destroyed,  the   Unitholder   must   furnish  the   Trustee   with   sufficient
indemnification   and  pay  such  expenses  as   the  Trustee  may  incur.  This
indemnification must be in the form of an Open Penalty Bond of  Indemnification.
The  premium for such an indemnity bond may vary, but currently amounts to 1% of
the market  value of  the Units  represented  by the  Certificate. In  the  case
however,  of  a Trust  as to  which notice  of termination  has been  given, the
premium currently amounts to 0.5% of  the market value of the Units  represented
by such Certificate.
 
HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE
 
Unitholders  may redeem all or a portion of  their Units by (1) making a written
request for such redemption (book entry Unitholders may use the redemption  form
on the reverse side of their Book Entry Position Confirmation) to the Trustee at
its  address  listed  on  the  back  cover of  this  Part  B  of  the Prospectus
(redemptions of 1,000 Units or more will require a signature guarantee), (2)  in
the case of Units evidenced by a Certificate, by also tendering such Certificate
to  the Trustee, duly endorsed or  accompanied by proper instruments of transfer
with signatures guaranteed as explained above, or provide satisfactory indemnity
required in  connection with  lost,  stolen or  destroyed Certificates  and  (3)
payment  of applicable governmental charges, if any. Certificates should be sent
only by registered or certified mail to minimize the possibility of their  being
lost  or stolen. (See "OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS".) No redemption fee will
be  charged.  A  Unitholder  may  authorize  the  Trustee  to  honor   telephone
instructions  for  the  redemption  of  Units held  in  book  entry  form. Units
represented by Certificates may  not be redeemed by  telephone. The proceeds  of
Units  redeemed by telephone will  be sent by check  either to the Unitholder at
the address specified on his account or to a financial institution specified  by
the Unitholder for credit to the account of the Unitholder. A Unitholder wishing
to   use  this  method  of  redemption  must  complete  a  Telephone  Redemption
Authorization Form and  furnish the  Form to the  Trustee. Telephone  Redemption
Authorization   Forms   can   be  obtained   from   a   Unitholder's  registered
representative or by calling  the Trustee. Once the  completed Form is on  file,
the  Trustee will honor telephone redemption requests  by any person. The time a
telephone redemption request is received
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
determines the "date of tender" as discussed below. The redemption proceeds will
be mailed within three business days following the telephone redemption request.
Only Units  held  in the  name  of individuals  may  be redeemed  by  telephone;
accounts  registered in broker name, or  accounts of corporations or fiduciaries
(including among others, trustees, guardians, executors and administrators)  may
not use the telephone redemption privilege.
 
    On  the third business day following the date of tender, the Unitholder will
be entitled to receive  in cash for  each Unit tendered an  amount equal to  the
Unit Value of such Trust determined by the Trustee, as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time
on  the date of tender  as defined hereafter, plus  accrued interest to, but not
including, the third business day after the date of tender ("Redemption Price").
The price received upon redemption may be  more or less than the amount paid  by
the  Unitholder  depending on  the value  of the  Bonds on  the date  of tender.
Unitholders should  check with  the Trustee  or their  broker to  determine  the
Redemption Price before tendering Units.
 
    The  "date of  tender" is  deemed to be  the date  on which  the request for
redemption of Units is received  in proper form by  the Trustee, except that  as
regards a redemption request received after 4:00 p.m. eastern time or on any day
on  which the New York  Stock Exchange (the "Exchange")  is normally closed, the
date of tender  is the  next day  on which such  Exchange is  normally open  for
trading  and such request will be  deemed to have been made  on such day and the
redemption will be effected at the Redemption Price computed on that day.
 
    Accrued interest paid  on redemption  shall be withdrawn  from the  Interest
Account  of the  appropriate Trust or,  if the balance  therein is insufficient,
from the Principal Account of such  Trust. All other amounts paid on  redemption
shall  be withdrawn from the Principal Account. The Trustee is empowered to sell
underlying Bonds of  a Trust in  order to make  funds available for  redemption.
(See  "HOW BONDS MAY  BE REMOVED FROM  THE TRUSTS.") Units  so redeemed shall be
cancelled. To  the  extent that  Bonds  are sold  from  a Trust,  the  size  and
diversity  of such Trust will  be reduced. Such sales may  be required at a time
when Bonds would not  otherwise be sold  and might result  in lower prices  than
might otherwise be realized.
 
    The  Redemption Price is  determined on the  basis of the  BID prices of the
Bonds in each Trust, while  the initial Public Offering  Price of Units will  be
determined  on the  basis of the  OFFERING prices of  the Bonds as  of 4:00 p.m.
eastern time on any day on which  the Exchange is normally open for trading  and
such determination is made. As of any given time, the difference between the bid
and  offering prices  of such  Bonds may be  expected to  average 1/2%  to 2% of
principal amount. In the case of actively traded Bonds, the difference may be as
little as 1/4  to 1/2 of  1%, and in  the case of  inactively traded Bonds  such
difference usually will not exceed 3%.
 
    The  right  of redemption  may be  suspended and  payment postponed  for any
period during  which  the Securities  and  Exchange Commission  determines  that
trading  in the municipal bond market is restricted or an emergency exists, as a
result  of  which  disposal  or  evaluation  of  the  Bonds  is  not  reasonably
practicable, or for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission
may by order permit.
 
    Under  regulations issued by the Internal  Revenue Service, the Trustee will
be required to withhold a specified percentage of the principal amount of a Unit
redemption if the Trustee has not been furnished the redeeming Unitholder's  tax
identification  number in the manner required by such regulations. Any amount so
withheld is transmitted to the Internal Revenue Service and may be recovered  by
the   Unitholder  only  when  filing  his   or  her  tax  return.  Under  normal
circumstances the  Trustee obtains  the Unitholder's  tax identification  number
from  the  selling broker  at  the time  the  Certificate or  Book  Entry Return
Confirmation is issued, and  this number is printed  on the Certificate or  Book
Entry  Return Confirmation and on distribution statements. If a Unitholder's tax
identification number does not appear as described above, or if it is incorrect,
the Unitholder should contact  the Trustee before  redeeming Units to  determine
what action, if any, is required to avoid this "back-up withholding."
 
HOW UNITS MAY BE PURCHASED BY THE SPONSOR
 
The  Trustee will notify the  Sponsor of any tender  of Units for redemption. If
the Sponsor's bid in  the secondary market  at that time  equals or exceeds  the
Redemption  Price it may purchase such Units by notifying the Trustee before the
close of business on  the second succeeding business  day and by making  payment
therefor  to  the Unitholder  not  later than  the  day on  which  payment would
otherwise have been made by the Trustee. (See "HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT
CHARGE.") The Sponsor's current  practice is to bid  at the Redemption Price  in
the  secondary market. Units held by the  Sponsor may be tendered to the Trustee
for redemption as any other Units.
 
HOW BONDS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUSTS
 
Bonds will be removed from a Trust as they mature or are redeemed by the issuers
thereof. See Part A of  this Prospectus and "RISK  FACTORS" for a discussion  of
call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
    The  Indenture also empowers  the Trustee to  sell Bonds for  the purpose of
redeeming Units tendered by any Unitholder, and for the payment of expenses  for
which  income may not be available. Under the Indenture the Sponsor is obligated
to provide the Trustee with a current list of Bonds in each Trust to be sold  in
such  circumstances. In deciding which Bonds  should be sold the Sponsor intends
to consider, among  other things, such  factors as: (1)  market conditions;  (2)
market  prices  of  the  Bonds;  (3)  the  effect  on  income  distributions  to
Unitholders of the sale of various Bonds; (4) the effect on principal amount  of
underlying  Bonds  per Unit  of the  sale  of various  Bonds; (5)  the financial
condition of the issuers; and (6) the effect of the sale of various Bonds on the
investment character of the Trust. Such sales, if required, could result in  the
sale  of Bonds by the Trustee at prices less than original cost to the Trust. To
the extent Bonds are sold, the size and diversity of such Trust will be reduced.
 
    In addition, the  Sponsor is empowered  to direct the  Trustee to  liquidate
Bonds upon the happening of certain other events, such as default in the payment
of principal and/or interest, an action of the issuer that will adversely affect
its  ability to continue payment of the  principal of and interest on its Bonds,
or an  adverse  change  in  market, revenue  or  credit  factors  affecting  the
investment  character of the Bonds. If a default in the payment of the principal
of and/or interest  on any  of the  Bonds occurs, and  if the  Sponsor fails  to
instruct  the Trustee whether to  sell or continue to  hold such Bonds within 30
days after  notification by  the Trustee  to the  Sponsor of  such default,  the
Indenture  provides that  the Trustee shall  liquidate said  Bonds forthwith and
shall not be liable for  any loss so incurred. The  Sponsor may also direct  the
Trustee  to liquidate Bonds in a Trust if the Bonds in the Trust are the subject
of an advanced refunding,  generally considered to be  when refunding bonds  are
issued and the proceeds thereof are deposited in irrevocable trust to retire the
refunded Bonds on their redemption date.
 
    Except  as stated in "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS" regarding the limited right of
substitution of Replacement  Bonds for  Failed Bonds, and  except for  refunding
securities that may be exchanged for Bonds under certain conditions specified in
the  Indenture, the Indenture does not permit  either the Sponsor or the Trustee
to acquire or deposit bonds either in  addition to, or in substitution for,  any
of the Bonds initially deposited in a Trust.
 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUSTEE
 
The  Trustee and its address are stated on the  back cover of this Part B of the
Prospectus. The Trustee is subject to supervision and examination by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation,  the Board  of Governors of  the Federal  Reserve
System and either the Comptroller of the Currency or state banking authorities.
 
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITIES OF SPONSOR AND TRUSTEE
 
    The  Sponsor and the Trustee shall be  under no liability to Unitholders for
taking any action or for  refraining from any action  in good faith pursuant  to
the Indenture, or for errors in judgment, but shall be liable only for their own
negligence,  lack of good faith or willful  misconduct. The Trustee shall not be
liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the Trustee of
any of the Bonds. In the  event of the failure of  the Sponsor to act under  the
Indenture, the Trustee may act thereunder and shall not be liable for any action
taken by it in good faith under the Indenture.
 
    The  Trustee shall not be liable for any taxes or other governmental charges
imposed upon or in respect of the Bonds or upon the interest thereon or upon  it
as  Trustee under  the Indenture or  upon or in  respect of any  Trust which the
Trustee may be required  to pay under  any present or future  law of the  United
States  of  America or  of any  other taxing  authority having  jurisdiction. In
addition,  the  Indenture  contains  other  customary  provisions  limiting  the
liability of the Trustee.
 
SUCCESSOR TRUSTEES AND SPONSORS
 
    The  Trustee or any successor trustee  may resign by executing an instrument
of resignation in writing and filing same with the Sponsor and mailing a copy of
a notice of resignation to all  Unitholders then of record. Upon receiving  such
notice,  the Sponsor is required to promptly appoint a successor trustee. If the
Trustee becomes incapable of acting or is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a
receiver or other public officer shall  take charge of its property or  affairs,
the  Sponsor  may  remove  the  Trustee  and  appoint  a  successor  by  written
instrument. The resignation  or removal of  a trustee and  the appointment of  a
successor trustee shall become effective only when the successor trustee accepts
its appointment as such. Any successor trustee shall be a corporation authorized
to  exercise  corporate  trust  powers, having  capital,  surplus  and undivided
profits of not less than $5,000,000. Any corporation into which a trustee may be
merged or with which it may  be consolidated, or any corporation resulting  from
any  merger or consolidation to  which a trustee shall be  a party, shall be the
successor trustee.
 
    If upon resignation  of a trustee  no successor has  been appointed and  has
accepted the appointment within 30 days after notification, the retiring trustee
may  apply  to  a court  of  competent  jurisdiction for  the  appointment  of a
successor.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    If the Sponsor fails to undertake any of its duties under the Indenture, and
no express  provision is  made for  action by  the Trustee  in such  event,  the
Trustee  may, in addition to its other  powers under the Indenture (1) appoint a
successor sponsor or (2) terminate the Indenture and liquidate the Trusts.
 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Sponsor and Underwriter, was founded in 1898
and is  the oldest  and  largest investment  banking  firm specializing  in  the
underwriting and distribution of tax-exempt securities and maintains the largest
research  department in the investment  banking community devoted exclusively to
the analysis of municipal securities. In  1961 the Sponsor began sponsoring  the
Nuveen  Tax-Exempt Unit Trust and, since this  time, it has issued more than $30
billion in tax-exempt unit trusts, including over $8 billion in insured  trusts.
The  Sponsor is also principal underwriter of  16 mutual funds and 60 closed-end
funds. These registered open-end  and closed-end investment companies  currently
have  approximately  $32.8 billion  in  tax-exempt securities  under management.
Nationwide, more than 1,000,000 individual investors have purchased Nuveen's tax
exempt trusts and  funds. The  present corporation was  organized in  1967 as  a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Nuveen  Corporation, successor to  the original John
Nuveen & Co. founded in 1898 as a sole proprietorship and incorporated in  1953.
In  1974, John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated became a wholly-owned subsidiary of The
St. Paul Companies, Inc., a financial services management company located in St.
Paul, Minnesota. On May 19, 1992,  common shares comprising a minority  interest
in  The John Nuveen  Company ("JNC"), a newly  organized corporation which holds
all of the  shares of  Nuveen, were  sold to the  general public  in an  initial
public offering. St. Paul retains a controlling interest in JNC with over 70% of
JNC's  shares. The Sponsor is a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.  and the  Securities Industry  Association and  has its  principal
offices located in Chicago (333 W. Wacker Drive) and New York (Swiss Bank Tower,
10 East 50th Street). It maintains 14 regional offices.
 
    To help advisers and investors better understand and more efficiently use an
investment  in  the  Trust to  reach  their  investment goals,  the  Sponsor may
advertise and create specific investment programs and systems. For example, such
activities may include presenting information on how to use an investment in the
Trust, alone or in combination with an investment in other mutual funds or  unit
investment trusts sponsored by Nuveen, to accumulate assets for future education
needs  or periodic payments such as  insurance premiums. The Trust's sponsor may
produce software or  additional sales  literature to promote  the advantages  of
using the Trust to meet these and other specific investor needs.
 
OTHER INFORMATION
AMENDMENT OF INDENTURE
 
    The  Indenture may  be amended  by the Trustee  and the  Sponsor without the
consent of any of  the Unitholders (1)  to cure any ambiguity  or to correct  or
supplement  any provision thereof which may be defective or inconsistent, or (2)
to make such  other provisions as  shall not adversely  affect the  Unitholders,
provided,  however, that the Indenture may not be amended to increase the number
of Units in any Trust or to permit the deposit or acquisition of bonds either in
addition to, or in substitution for any of the Bonds initially deposited in  any
Trust except as stated in "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS" regarding the limited right of
substitution  of Replacement Bonds and except  for the substitution of refunding
bonds under certain circumstances. The  Trustee shall advise the Unitholders  of
any amendment promptly after execution thereof.
 
TERMINATION OF INDENTURE
 
    Each  Trust may be liquidated at any time  by written consent of 100% of the
Unitholders or by  the Trustee when  the value of  such Trust, as  shown by  any
evaluation,  is less than 20% of the original principal amount of such Trust and
will be  liquidated  by  the Trustee  in  the  event that  Units  not  yet  sold
aggregating  more  than 60%  of the  Units originally  created are  tendered for
redemption by the Sponsor thereby reducing the  net worth of such Trust to  less
than  40%  of the  principal amount  of  the Bonds  originally deposited  in the
portfolio. (See "Essential Information" appearing in Part A of this Prospectus.)
The sale of Bonds from the Trusts upon termination may result in realization  of
a  lesser amount than might otherwise be realized if such sale were not required
at such time. For this reason, among others, the amount realized by a Unitholder
upon termination  may be  less than  the principal  amount of  Bonds  originally
represented  by the Units held by  such Unitholder. The Indenture will terminate
upon the redemption, sale or other disposition of the last Bond held thereunder,
but in no event shall it continue beyond the end of the calendar year  preceding
the  fiftieth anniversary of its execution for National and State Trusts, beyond
the end  of  the  calendar  year preceding  the  twentieth  anniversary  of  its
execution  for Long Intermediate,  and Intermediate Trusts or  beyond the end of
the calendar year  preceding the tenth  anniversary of its  execution for  Short
Intermediate and Short Term Trusts.
 
    Written  notice of  any termination  specifying the  time or  times at which
Unitholders may surrender their Certificates, if any, for cancellation shall  be
given  by  the  Trustee to  each  Unitholder  at the  address  appearing  on the
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
registration books of the Trust maintained  by the Trustee. Within a  reasonable
time thereafter the Trustee shall liquidate any Bonds in the Trust then held and
shall  deduct  from the  assets  of the  Trust  any accrued  costs,  expenses or
indemnities provided  by  the  Indenture  which are  allocable  to  such  Trust,
including estimated compensation of the Trustee and costs of liquidation and any
amounts  required as a reserve to provide for payment of any applicable taxes or
other governmental charges. The Trustee shall then distribute to Unitholders  of
such  Trust their pro  rata share of  the balance of  the Interest and Principal
Accounts. With  such distribution  the Unitholders  shall be  furnished a  final
distribution   statement,  in  substantially   the  same  form   as  the  annual
distribution statement, of the amount distributable. At such time as the Trustee
in its sole discretion shall determine that  any amounts held in reserve are  no
longer  necessary, it shall make distribution thereof to Unitholders in the same
manner.
 
LEGAL OPINION
 
    The legality of the Units offered hereby has been passed upon by Chapman and
Cutler, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. Special counsel for the
Trusts for respective state tax matters are named in "Tax Status" for each Trust
appearing in  Part A  of this  Prospectus.  Carter, Ledyard  & Milburn,  2  Wall
Street,  New York,  New York 10005,  has acted  as counsel for  the Trustee with
respect to the Series, and, in the absence of a New York Trust from the  Series,
as special New York tax counsel for the Series.
 
AUDITORS
 
    The  "Statement  of  Condition" and  "Schedule  of Investments"  at  Date of
Deposit included  in Part  A of  this  Prospectus have  been audited  by  Arthur
Andersen  LLP, independent public  accountants, as indicated  in their report in
Part A  of  this  Prospectus, and  are  included  herein in  reliance  upon  the
authority of said firm as experts in giving said report.
 
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
 
    Upon written or telephonic request to the Trustee, investors will receive at
no  cost to  the investor supplemental  information about this  Trust, which has
been filed  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  and is  intended  to
supplement  information contained in Part  A and Part B  of this Prospectus. The
supplemental information includes more  detailed information concerning  certain
of  the Bonds included in the Trusts contained in the applicable Series and more
specific  risk  information  concerning   the  individual  state  Trusts.   This
supplement  also includes additional  general information about  the Sponsor and
the Trusts.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                         NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
   
                              PROSPECTUS -- PART B
                               SEPTEMBER 1, 1995
    
 
<TABLE>
<C>                       <S>        <C>
                 SPONSOR             John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
                                     333 West Wacker Drive
                                     Chicago, IL 60606-1286
                                     Telephone: 312.917.7700
 
                                     Swiss Bank Tower
                                     10 East 50th Street
                                     New York, NY 10022
                                     212.207.2000
 
                 TRUSTEE             The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                                     770 Broadway
                                     New York, NY 10003
                                     800.257.8787
 
           LEGAL COUNSEL             Chapman and Cutler
              TO SPONSOR             111 West Monroe Street
                                     Chicago, IL 60603
 
             INDEPENDENT             Arthur Andersen LLP
                  PUBLIC             33 West Monroe Street
             ACCOUNTANTS             Chicago, IL 60603
          FOR THE TRUSTS
</TABLE>
 
                                 --------------
 
           Except as to  statements made  herein furnished by  the Trustee,  the
Trustee   has  assumed  no   responsibility  for  the   accuracy,  adequacy  and
completeness of the information contained in this Prospectus.
 
           This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth  in
the  registration  statement  and  exhibits  relating  thereto,  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington,  D.C., under the Securities  Act
of 1933, and to which reference is made.
 
           No   person  is  authorized  to  give  any  information  or  to  make
representations not contained in this Prospectus or in supplemental  information
or   sales  literature  prepared   by  the  Sponsor,   and  any  information  or
representation not contained  therein must  not be  relied upon  as having  been
authorized  by either  the Trusts, the  Trustee or the  Sponsor. This Prospectus
does not constitute  an offer to  sell, or a  solicitation of an  offer to  buy,
securities  in any State  to any person  to whom it  is not lawful  to make such
offer in such state. The Trusts are registered as a Unit Investment Trust  under
the  Investment Company Act of  1940. Such registration does  not imply that the
Trusts or any  of their  Units has  been guaranteed,  sponsored, recommended  or
approved by the United States or any State or agency or officer thereof.
<PAGE>
                                           A
   
NUVEEN                 NUVEEN NATIONAL INSURED TRUST 303
                   (NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS SERIES    )
    
 
                                                CUSIP NUMBERS:
 
                                                   Monthly:           
                                                   Quarterly:         
                                                   Semi-Annually:     
 
                      PROSPECTUS--PART A (SPECIFIC TERMS)
              THIS PART A OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED
              UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE PART B OF THE PROSPECTUS.
     BOTH PARTS OF THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
 
    National  Insured Trust, Series      (the "National Insured Trust") consists
of a portfolio  of interest-bearing obligations  issued by or  on behalf of  the
States  or certain United States Territories which, in the opinion of recognized
bond counsel to  the issuing authorities,  provide income which  is exempt  from
Federal income tax, as detailed below.
 
    The  objectives of the  Trust are conservation of  capital and income exempt
from Federal income  taxes. The objectives  are, of course,  dependent upon  the
continuing  ability  of  the issuers,  obligors  and/or insurers  to  meet their
respective obligations.
 
    The Portfolio  of  National Insured  Trust       consists of      long  term
(approximately  15 to 40 year maturities) obligations issued by entities located
in    states. The  Bonds in  the Trust  are either  general obligations  of  the
governmental  entity issuing them and are backed  by the taxing power thereof or
are payable as to principal and interest  from the income of a specific  project
or  authority and  are not supported  by the  issuer's power to  levy taxes. The
sources of payment for the Bonds, other than General Obligation Bonds and  Bonds
Escrowed to maturity or optional redemption date, are divided as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF                                                                                    PORTFOLIO
  ISSUES                                   PURPOSE OF ISSUE                                  PERCENTAGE
-----------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------
<C>          <S>                                                                            <C>
             Health Care Facility Revenue                                                          %
             Water and/or Sewer Revenue                                                            
             Industrial Revenue                                                                    
             Electrical System Revenue                                                             
             Transportation Facility Revenue                                                        
             Municipal Lease Revenue                                                                
</TABLE>
 
    Approximately      % of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately     % of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds) are original issue discount bonds. See "RISK FACTORS" for a discussion of
the characteristics of such obligations and of the risks associated therewith.
 
    All of the Bonds in  the National Insured Trust  are covered by policies  of
insurance  obtained from the MBIA  Insurance Corporation guaranteeing payment of
principal and interest when due. As a result of such insurance, the Bonds in the
Trust have received  a rating of  "Aaa" by Moody's  Investors Service, Inc.  and
both the Bonds in the Trust and the Units of the Trust have received a rating of
"AAA" by Standard & Poor's.
 
               percent of the principal amount of Bonds in the Trust consists of
issues  of entities located  in the State of            ; such concentration may
involve more risk than if such Bonds  were issued by issuers located in  several
states.
 
    For  a discussion of the  risks associated with investments  in the bonds of
various issuers, see "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
----------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON  THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                                     1 of 6
<PAGE>
   
                             ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
                REGARDING THE NUVEEN NATIONAL INSURED TRUST 303
       ON THE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, AUGUST   , 1995
    
          Sponsor and Evaluator........ John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
          Trustee...................... The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                ------------------------------------------------
 
The  income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been calculated
for  Unitholders  receiving  monthly,  quarterly  or  semi-annual   distribution
options.
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $    
Number of Units.....................................          
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....        1/
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $     
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $         
    Plus Sales Charge 4.9% (5.152% of the Aggregate
     Offering Price of the Bonds per Unit)..........  $          
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $        
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $         
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $         
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $          
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $          
Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust(2)...........       28.3 years
 
<CAPTION>
                                                          MONTHLY
                                                      SEMI-ANNUAL ---
                                                                QUARTERLY
                                                                --
                                                                ------------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>   <C>
  Calculation of Estimated Net Annual
    Interest Income Per Unit
      Annual Interest Income(3)............        $               $           $ 
      Less Estimated Annual Expense........        $               $           $ 
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
      Estimated Net Annual Interest
        Income(4)..........................        $               $           $ 
  Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit...........        $               $           $ 
  ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN(5)..............                %           %           %
  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN(5)............                %           %           %
  Trustee's Annual Fees(6).................        $               $           $ 
</TABLE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                       <C>
Date of Deposit....................................................................................August , 1995
Settlement Date..................................................................................September , 1995
Mandatory Termination Date....................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Minimum Value of Each Trust...................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.........................................$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses(7)...................................................... per Unit $
----------
BECAUSE CERTAIN OF THE BONDS IN THE TRUST WILL NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE UNTIL AFTER THE SETTLEMENT DATE FOR
A  PURCHASE OF UNITS MADE ON THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, INTEREST THAT ACCRUES ON THOSE BONDS BETWEEN THE DATE OF DEPOSIT
AND SUCH DELIVERY DATE WILL BE TREATED  AS A RETURN OF PRINCIPAL RATHER  THAN AS TAX-EXEMPT INCOME. THE AMOUNT  OF
ANY  SUCH RETURN  OF PRINCIPAL  IS NOT  INCLUDED IN THE  ANNUAL INTEREST  INCOME SHOWN  ABOVE. FOR  THE TRUST, THE
FOLLOWING SETS FORTH THE LATEST SCHEDULED BOND DELIVERY DATE, THE AMOUNT PER UNIT THAT WILL BE TREATED AS A RETURN
OF PRINCIPAL TO  UNITHOLDERS WHO  PURCHASE ON THE  DATE OF  DEPOSIT, AND THE  ESTIMATED CURRENT  RETURN UNDER  THE
MONTHLY  DISTRIBUTION PLAN AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, ASSUMING THE  PORTFOLIO AND ESTIMATED ANNUAL EXPENSES DO NOT VARY
FROM THAT SET FORTH ABOVE (SEE "WHAT  ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?" IN  PART B OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND  THE
"SCHEDULE  OF INVESTMENTS").  THE ESTIMATED  CURRENT RETURN  AFTER THE FIRST  YEAR WILL  ALSO BE  HIGHER UNDER THE
QUARTERLY AND SEMI-ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION PLANS:
                                   LATEST SCHEDULED         PER UNIT         ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
                                    DELIVERY DATE     RETURN OF PRINCIPAL      AFTER THE FIRST YEAR
                                  ------------------  --------------------   -------------------------
  NATIONAL INSURED TRUST........  SEPTEMBER , 1995  $                                        %
<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 "HOW IS THE PUBLIC  OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this
Prospectus.)
(1) Units are offered at the Public  Offering Price plus accrued interest from the  preceding Record Date to, but not  including,
    the  date of settlement (normally three business days after purchase). The Date of Deposit of the Fund has been designated as
    the First Record  Date for  all plans of  distribution of  the Trust and,  accordingly, for  Units purchased on  the Date  of
    Deposit,  $    of accrued interest to the  Settlement Date will be added to the  Public Offering Price. (See "WHAT IS ACCRUED
    INTEREST?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
(2) The Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust is calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in the Trust (or, with
    respect to Bonds for which funds or securities have been placed  in escrow to redeem such Bonds on a stated call date,  based
    upon  such call date). The Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust  may increase or decrease from time to time as Bonds mature
    or are called or sold.
(3) Assumes delivery of all Bonds. (See "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS" appearing in Part B of this Prospectus.) Interest income does not
    include accretion of original issue discount  on "zero coupon" Bonds, Stripped  Obligations or other original issue  discount
    Bonds. (See "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
(4)  The amount and timing of interest distributions from the Trust  under the various plans of distribution are set forth below.
    It is anticipated that the amount of  interest to be distributed per Unit in  each year under each plan of distribution  will
    initially  be substantially equal to the Estimated Net Annual Interest  Income per Unit for that plan. The amount of interest
    to be distributed annually per Unit, will generally change as Bonds are redeemed, mature or are sold or as fees and  expenses
    increase or decrease.
(5)  Estimated Long Term  Return for the Trust  represents the average of  the yields to  maturity (or call) of  the Bonds in the
    Trust's portfolio  calculated in  accordance with  accepted bond  practices and  adjusted to  reflect a  compounding  factor,
    expenses  and sales charges. Estimated Current Return is computed by  dividing the Net Annual Interest Income per Unit by the
    Public Offering  Price, and  in contrast  to Estimated  Long Term  Return does  not reflect  the amortization  of premium  or
    accretion  of discount, if any. For more information see "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?"
    in Part B of this Prospectus.
(6) Each Trustee annual fee is  per $1,000 principal amount of  the underlying Bonds in the Trust  for that portion of the  Trust
    that represents a particular plan of distribution.
(7)  The Trust (and therefore Unit holders) will bear all or  a portion of its organizational costs (including costs of preparing
    the registration statements,  the trust  indenture and other  closing documents,  registering Units with  the Securities  and
    Exchange Commission and states, the initial audit of the Trust portfolio, legal fees and the initial fees and expenses of the
    Trustee  but not including the  expenses incurred in the  printing of preliminary prospectuses,  and expenses incurred in the
    preparation and printing of brochures and other advertising materials and any other selling expenses) as is common for mutual
    funds. Total  organizational expenses  will be  amortized over  a five  year period.  See "WHAT  ARE NORMAL  TRUST  OPERATING
    EXPENSES?"  in Part B and  "Statement of Condition." Historically, the  sponsors of unit investment  trusts have paid all the
    costs of establishing such trusts.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                     2 of 6
<PAGE>
                             INTEREST DISTRIBUTION
 
    Details of interest  distributions per  Unit of the  National 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
                                                  1995                             1996                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................       10/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................      10/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   (1)                                                  $  5.5477
                                                          --------  $ every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   (1)   $   (2)   $        $          $  
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   (1)   $   (3)                  $          $  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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. Distribution Dates under each
   distribution  plan are the fifteenth day of the month in which the respective Record Date occurred. For additional information
   see "WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
(1) The first distribution will be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution  may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2)  The  second distribution  under the  quarterly distribution  plan  
    represents a   -month distribution;  subsequent quarterly  distributions 
    will be regular  -month distributions.
(3) The second distribution  under the semi-annual  distribution plan 
   represents a   -month distribution; subsequent  semi-annual
    distributions will be regular  -month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
                       TAX STATUS--NATIONAL INSURED TRUST
 
    For  a discussion  of the  Federal tax status  of income  earned on National
Insured Trust Units, see "WHAT IS  THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" appearing  in
Part B of this Prospectus.
 
                                     3 of 6
<PAGE>
   
                       NUVEEN NATIONAL INSURED TRUST 303
                   (NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 822)
          SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT, AUGUST 30, 1995
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's        Price
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1,000,000      State of California, Various Purpose General        2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       
                   Obligation Bonds, 6.00% Due 8/1/24.
    500,000      Beverly Hills Unified School District, County       2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             
                   of Los Angeles, California, General
                   Obligation Bonds, 1995 Series A, 5.75% Due
                   5/1/20.
    600,000      Airports Commission of the City and County of       2004 at 101        AAA         Aaa             
                   San Francisco, California, San Francisco
                   International Airport, Second Series Revenue
                   Bonds, Issue 8B, 6.10% Due 5/1/25. (When
                   issued.)
  1,000,000      Florida Municipal Power Agency, Stanton II          2003 at 100        AAA         Aaa             
                   Project Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 1993,
                   4.50% Due 10/1/27. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about October 5, 1993
                   at a price of 88.625% of principal amount.)
  1,410,000      City of Chicago, Illinois, Gas Supply Refunding     2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa           
                   Revenue Bonds, 1995 Series A (The Peoples Gas
                   Light and Coke Company Project), 6.10% Due
                   6/1/25.
  1,000,000     * Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities    2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             
                   Authority, Revenue Bonds, Newton-Wellesley
                   Hospital Issue, Series E, 6.00% Due 7/1/25.
                   (When issued.)
  1,000,000      Massachusetts Water Resources Authority,          2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             
                   General Revenue Bonds, 1994 Series A, 6.00%
                   Due 8/1/24.
    500,000      Marshall County Correctional Facilities             2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             
                   Financing Corporation (Mississippi),
                   Certificates of Participation (Marshall
                   County Correctional Facility Project), Series
                   1995, 5.625% Due 6/1/15.
  1,000,000      Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, General Purpose        2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             
                   Authority, Hospital Revenue Bonds (Lehigh
                   Valley Hospital, Inc.), Series A of 1994,
                   6.00% Due 7/1/25. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about April 14, 1994 at
                   a price of 93.973% of principal amount.)
  1,000,000      Bexar Metropolitan Water District (Texas),          2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             
                   Waterworks System Revenue Bonds, Series 1995,
                   5.875% Due 5/1/22. (When issued.)
    490,000      Industrial Development Authority of Fairfax      No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             
                   County, Virginia, Hospital Revenue Refunding
                   Bonds (Inova Health System Hospitals
                   Project), Series 1993A, 5.00% Due 8/15/14.
    500,000      King County, Washington, Limited Tax General        2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             
                   Obligation Bonds, 1995, 6.00% Due 1/1/27.
-----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$                                                                                                 $     
-----------                                                                                                 ---------------
-----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
 * See  "RISK FACTORS"  in Part  B of  this Prospectus  for a  discussion of the
   characteristics of Original Issue Discount Bonds and Stripped Obligations and
   of the risks associated therewith.
 
** These Bonds, or  a portion  thereof, have  delivery dates  beyond the  normal
   settlement  date.  Their  expected  delivery  date  is  September    ,  1995.
   Contracts relating to Bonds with delivery dates after the date of  settlement
   for  purchase made on the Date of Deposit constitute approximately   % of the
   aggregate principal amount of the Trust. (See "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS" in Part
   B of this Prospectus.)
 
------------
 
    (1) The Sponsor's contracts  to purchase Bonds were  entered into on  August
  , 1995. Other information regarding the Bonds in the Trust on the initial Date
of Deposit is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             ANNUAL
                                 PROFIT     INTEREST
                    COST TO    (OR LOSS)   INCOME TO   BID PRICE
       TRUST        SPONSOR    TO SPONSOR    TRUST      OF BONDS
  ---------------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  <S>              <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
  NATIONAL
  INSURED TRUST
  ............  $            $            $           $
</TABLE>
 
In  addition,  the difference  between the  Trustee's determination  of Offering
Price and Bid Price (as a percentage of principal amount) is .  %. Neither  cost
to  Sponsor nor  profit (or  loss) to  Sponsor reflects  underwriting profits or
losses received  or  incurred  by  the  Sponsor  through  its  participation  in
underwriting  syndicates. The  Sponsor did  not participate  as either  the sole
underwriter or as a manager or member of a syndicate that acted as the  original
underwriter of any of the Bonds.
 
    (2)  The Bonds are first subject to optional redemption in the years, and at
the prices,  shown. Unless  otherwise  indicated, the  Bonds, except  for  Bonds
issued  at a  substantial original issue  discount, are  redeemable at declining
prices (but not below  par value) in subsequent  years. Original issue  discount
bonds,  including zero coupon bonds, are generally redeemable at prices based on
the issue  price  plus  the  amount  of  original  issue  discount  accreted  to
redemption  plus, if applicable, some premium,  the amount of which will decline
in subsequent years. The  Bonds may also be  subject to sinking fund  redemption
without  premium  prior to  the dates  shown.  Certain Bonds  may be  subject to
redemption without  premium prior  to  the date  shown  pursuant to  special  or
mandatory  call provisions specified in the  instruments setting forth the terms
and provisions of  such Bonds.  See "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS", "WHAT  IS THE  TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" and "RISK FACTORS" in Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    (3)  All the  Bonds in the  Insured Trusts,  as insured by  the Insurer, are
rated AAA by Standard & Poor's Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. The insurance obtained by the Trust guarantees the payment of interest  and
principal  on  the  Bonds when  due  but  does not  cover  certain  market risks
associated with fixed income securities  such as accelerated payments,  premiums
payable  on mandatory redemptions or interest rate  risks. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE
THE BONDS INSURED?" in Part B of this Prospectus and "Description of Ratings" in
the Information Supplement.)
 
                                     4 of 6
<PAGE>
                             Statement of Condition
 
                       NUVEEN NATIONAL INSURED TRUST    
 
   
                   (Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series    )
    
 
   
                             AS OF AUGUST   , 1995
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
    TRUST PROPERTY
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-Exempt Bonds,
  backed by an irrevocable letter of
  credit(1)(2)....................................  $    
Accrued interest to August   , 1995 on underlying
  Bonds(1)........................................          
Organizational costs(3)...........................          
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
   LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITIES:
    Accrued interest to August   , 1995 on
     underlying Bonds(4)..........................  $       
    Accrued organizational costs(3)...............          
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $      
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided interest
     outstanding (100,000)
      Cost to investors(5)........................  $   
        Less: Gross underwriting commission(6)....        
                                                    --------------
    Net amount applicable to investors............  $    
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $    
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
------------
(1) Represented by  contracts to purchase  Tax-Exempt Bonds  which
    include  "when issued" or "regular  way" or "delayed delivery"
    contracts for which an irrevocable letter of credit issued  by
    a major commercial bank has been deposited with the Trustee on
    the  Date of Deposit. The amount  of such letter of credit and
    any cash  deposited  exceeds  the  amount  necessary  for  the
    purchase  of the  Bonds plus accrued  interest to  the Date of
    Deposit. At the Date of Deposit, Bonds may have been delivered
    to the Sponsor  pursuant to  certain of  these contracts;  the
    Sponsor  has assigned to the Trustee  all of its rights, title
    and interest in and to such Bonds.
(2) Aggregate value (at offering prices) as of the Date of Deposit
    of the Bonds  listed under "Schedule  of Investments"  herein,
    and  their  aggregate cost  to the  Trust  are the  same. Such
    offering  prices  were  determined  by  Kenny  S&P  Evaluation
    Services,  a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc., as of the close
    of business on the business day prior to the Date of  Deposit.
    (See "HOW WAS THE PRICE OF THE BONDS DETERMINED AT THE DATE OF
    DEPOSIT?"  in Part  B of this  Prospectus.) Insurance coverage
    providing for the timely payment,  when due, of all  principal
    of  and interest  on the  Bonds in  an Insured  Trust has been
    obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds.  Such
    insurance  does not guarantee the market value of the Bonds or
    the value of the Units. Both  the bid and the offering  prices
    of  the underlying  Bonds and of  the Units  may include value
    attributable to such policies of insurance.
(3) The  Trust (and  therefore  Unitholders) will  bear all  or  a
    portion  of its  estimated organizational costs  which will be
    deferred and  amortized  over  five years  from  the  Date  of
    Deposit.
(4)  Representing, as set forth in  "WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?" in
    Part B of this  Prospectus, advancement by  the Trustee of  an
    amount  equal to the  accrued Bond interest as  of the Date of
    Deposit.
(5)  Aggregate  Public  Offering   Price  (exclusive  of   accrued
    interest)  computed  as set  forth  under "HOW  IS  THE PUBLIC
    OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
(6) The  gross  underwriting commission  of  4.90% of  the  Public
    Offering  Price has been calculated on the assumption that the
    Units sold are not subject to a reduction of sales charge  for
    quantity purchases. In single transactions involving 500 Units
    or  more, the sales charge is reduced. (See "HOW IS THE PUBLIC
    OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
</TABLE>
    
 
                                     5 of 6
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF JOHN  NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED AND UNITHOLDERS  OF
NATIONAL INSURED TRUST :
 
   
    We  have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the schedule of
investments at  date of  deposit (included  in  Part A  of this  Prospectus)  of
National  Insured Trust      (contained in Nuveen  Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series
   ), as of August   , 1995.  These financial statements are the  responsibility
of  the Sponsor. Our responsibility is to  express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audit.
    
 
    We conducted  our  audit  in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of the irrevocable letter of credit arrangement for the purchase of
securities,   described  in  Note   (1)  to  the   statement  of  condition,  by
correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used  and significant  estimates  made by  the  Sponsor, as  well  as
evaluating  the overall  financial statement  presentation. We  believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
    In our  opinion, the  statement of  condition and  the related  schedule  of
investments at date of deposit referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects,  the financial position of National Insured Trust     as of August  ,
1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
    
 
                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
Chicago, Illinois,
August , 1995.
    
 
                                     6 of 6
<PAGE>
                         NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS
 
                 ---------------------------------------------
 
                             INFORMATION SUPPLEMENT
 
   
                               NUVEEN SERIES 
    
 
   
                This   Information  Supplement  provides  additional
            information concerning  the  structure,  operations  and
            risks of a Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust not found in the
            prospectuses for the Trusts. This Information Supplement
            is  not a  prospectus and  does not  include all  of the
            information that a prospective investor should  consider
            before investing in a Trust. This Information Supplement
            should  be read  in conjunction with  the prospectus for
            the Trust in which an investor is considering  investing
            ("Prospectus"). Copies of the Prospectus can be obtained
            by  calling  or  writing the  Trustee  at  the telephone
            number  and  address   indicated  in  Part   A  of   the
            Prospectus. This Information Supplement has been created
            to supplement information contained in the Prospectus.
    
 
   
                This  Information Supplement is dated              .
            Capitalized terms have been defined in the Prospectus.
    
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
               --------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                           <C>
GENERAL RISK DISCLOSURE.....................................................           2
  Health Facility Obligations...............................................           2
  Housing Obligations.......................................................           2
  Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds......................................           2
  Federally Enhanced Obligations............................................           3
  Industrial Revenue Obligations............................................           3
  Electric Utility Obligations..............................................           3
  Transportation Facility Revenue Bonds.....................................           4
  Water and/or Sewerage Obligations.........................................           4
  University and College Revenue Obligations................................           4
  Bridge Authority and Tollroad Obligations.................................           4
  Dedicated-Tax Supported Bonds.............................................           4
  Municipal Lease Bonds.....................................................           5
  Original Issue Discount Bonds and Stripped Obligations....................           5
WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?..........................................           6
ACCUMULATION PLAN...........................................................           8
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR...............................................          10
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS......................................................          11
Appendix A -- National Disclosure...........................................         A-1
Appendix B -- Florida Disclosure............................................         B-1
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
GENERAL RISK DISCLOSURE
 
    An investment in Units of any Trust should be made with an understanding  of
the  risks that such an investment may  entail. These include the ability of the
issuer, or,  if  applicable,  an  insurer, to  make  payments  of  interest  and
principal  when due, the  effects of changes in  interest rates generally, early
call provisions and the potential for changes in the tax status of the Bonds. As
set forth in the portfolio  summaries in Part A  of this Prospectus, the  Trusts
may  contain or be concentrated  in one or more of  the types of bonds discussed
below.  The  following  paragraphs  discuss  certain  circumstances  which   may
adversely  affect the  ability of issuers  of Bonds  held in the  portfolio of a
Trust to make payment of principal  and interest thereon or which may  adversely
affect  the  ratings of  such Bonds;  with respect  to Insured  Trusts, however,
because of the insurance obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of the Bonds,
such changes should not adversely affect an Insured Trust's receipt of principal
and interest, the Standard & Poor's AAA  or Moody's Aaa ratings of the Bonds  in
the Insured Trust portfolio, or the Standard & Poor's AAA rating of the Units of
each  such Insured Trust. For economic  risks specific to the individual Trusts,
see "Risk Factors" for each Trust.
 
    HEALTH FACILITY  OBLIGATIONS.    Some  of  the  Bonds  in  a  Trust  may  be
obligations  of issuers  whose revenues  are derived  from services  provided by
hospitals or other health care  facilities, including nursing homes. Ratings  of
bonds  issued  for health  care facilities  are  sometimes based  on feasibility
studies that contain projections of  occupancy levels, revenues and expenses.  A
facility's  gross  receipts and  net income  available for  debt service  may be
affected by future events and  conditions including, among other things,  demand
for  services, the ability of the facility  to provide the services required, an
increasing shortage of qualified nurses or a dramatic rise in nursing  salaries,
physicians'  confidence  in  the  facility,  management  capabilities,  economic
developments in  the service  area, competition  from other  similar  providers,
efforts  by  insurers  and  governmental agencies  to  limit  rates, legislation
establishing state rate-setting agencies,  expenses, government regulation,  the
cost  and possible unavailability of  malpractice insurance, and the termination
or restriction of governmental  financial assistance, including that  associated
with  Medicare, Medicaid and other similar  third party payor programs. Medicare
reimbursements are currently calculated on a prospective basis and are not based
on a provider's actual costs. Such method of reimbursement may adversely  affect
reimbursements to hospitals and other facilities for services provided under the
Medicare  program and thereby may have an  adverse effect on the ability of such
institutions to satisfy  debt service requirements.  In the event  of a  default
upon  a bond  secured by hospital  facilities, the limited  alternative uses for
such facilities may result  in the recovery upon  such collateral not  providing
sufficient funds to fully repay the bonds.
 
    Certain  hospital  bonds  provide for  redemption  at par  upon  the damage,
destruction or  condemnation of  the  hospital facilities  or in  other  special
circumstances.
 
    HOUSING  OBLIGATIONS.  Some  of the Bonds  in a Trust  may be obligations of
issuers whose  revenues are  primarily derived  from mortgage  loans to  housing
projects  for  low  to  moderate  income  families.  Such  issues  are generally
characterized by mandatory redemption at par  or, in the case of original  issue
discount  bonds, accreted  value in  the event of  economic defaults  and in the
event of a failure of the operator of a project to comply with certain covenants
as to the operation of the project. The failure of such operator to comply  with
certain  covenants related  to the tax-exempt  status of interest  on the Bonds,
such as provisions requiring that a  specified percentage of units be rented  or
available for rental to low or moderate income families, potentially could cause
interest on such Bonds to be subject to Federal income taxation from the date of
issuance of the Bonds. The ability of such issuers to make debt service payments
will   be  affected  by  events  and  conditions  affecting  financed  projects,
including, among other  things, the  achievement and  maintenance of  sufficient
occupancy  levels and adequate  rental income, employment  and income conditions
prevailing in local labor markets, increases  in taxes, utility costs and  other
operating  expenses, the managerial ability of project managers, changes in laws
and governmental regulations,  the appropriation  of subsidies,  and social  and
economic  trends affecting  the localities  in which  the projects  are located.
Occupancy of such housing projects may be adversely affected by high rent levels
and income limitations imposed under Federal and state programs.
 
    SINGLE FAMILY MORTGAGE REVENUE BONDS.  Some  of the Bonds in a Trust may  be
single  family  mortgage revenue  bonds,  which are  issued  for the  purpose of
acquiring from originating financial institutions notes secured by mortgages  on
residences located within the issuer's boundaries and owned by persons of low or
moderate  income. Mortgage loans  are generally partially  or completely prepaid
prior to  their final  maturities as  a result  of events  such as  sale of  the
mortgaged  premises, default, condemnation or casualty loss. Because these bonds
are subject to extraordinary mandatory redemption in whole or in part from  such
prepayments of mortgage loans, a substantial portion of such bonds will probably
be  redeemed prior to their scheduled maturities or even prior to their ordinary
call dates. Extraordinary mandatory redemption without premium could also result
from the  failure of  the originating  financial institutions  to make  mortgage
loans   in   sufficient   amounts   within   a   specified   time   period.  The
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
redemption price of such issues may be  more or less than the offering price  of
such  bonds. Additionally,  unusually high  rates of  default on  the underlying
mortgage loans may reduce revenues available for the payment of principal of  or
interest  on such mortgage  revenue bonds. Single  family mortgage revenue bonds
issued after December 31,  1980 were issued under  Section 103A of the  Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or Section 143 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986,  which Sections  contain certain requirements  relating to the  use of the
proceeds of such bonds  in order for  the interest on such  bonds to retain  its
tax-exempt  status. In  each case,  the issuer  of the  bonds has  covenanted to
comply with applicable requirements and bond  counsel to such issuer has  issued
an  opinion that  the interest on  the bonds  is exempt from  Federal income tax
under existing  laws  and regulations.  There  can  be no  assurance  that  such
continuing requirements will be satisfied; the failure to meet such requirements
could  cause interest  on the  Bonds to be  subject to  Federal income taxation,
possibly from the date of issuance of the Bonds.
 
    FEDERALLY ENHANCED  OBLIGATIONS.   Some of  the mortgages  which secure  the
various  health care or housing projects which underlie the previously discussed
Health Facility, Housing,  and Single Family  Mortgage Revenue Obligations  (the
"Obligations")  in a Trust may be  insured by the Federal Housing Administration
("FHA"). Under FHA  regulations, the  maximum insurable  mortgage amount  cannot
exceed  90%  of the  FHA's  estimated value  of  the project.  The  FHA mortgage
insurance does not constitute a guarantee of timely payment of the principal  of
and  interest on the Obligations. Payment  of mortgage insurance benefits may be
(1) less than the principal amount of Obligations outstanding or (2) delayed  if
disputes  arise as to  the amount of the  payment or if  certain notices are not
given to the FHA within  the prescribed time periods.  In addition, some of  the
previously  discussed Obligations may be secured by mortgage-backed certificates
guaranteed by the  Government National Mortgage  Association ("GNMA"), a  wholly
owned  corporate  instrumentality  of  the  United  States,  and/or  the Federal
National  Mortgage  Association  ("Fannie   Mae")  a  federally  chartered   and
stockholder-owed  corporation. GNMA and  Fannie Mae guarantee  timely payment of
principal and  interest  on the  mortgage-backed  certificates, even  where  the
underlying   mortgage  payments   are  not  made.   While  such  mortgage-backed
certificates are often pledged  to secure payment of  principal and interest  on
the  Obligations, timely payment of interest and principal on the Obligations is
not insured or guaranteed by  the United States, GNMA,  Fannie Mae or any  other
governmental  agency or  instrumentality. The  GNMA mortgage-backed certificates
constitute a general obligation  of the United States  backed by its full  faith
and  credit. The obligations of Fannie  Mae, including its obligations under the
Fannie Mae mortgage-backed securities, are obligations solely of Fannie Mae  and
are  not backed  by, or  entitled to, the  full faith  and credit  of the United
States.
 
    INDUSTRIAL REVENUE OBLIGATIONS.   Certain  of the Bonds  in a  Trust may  be
industrial  revenue bonds  ("IRBs"), including pollution  control revenue bonds,
which  are  tax-exempt  securities  issued  by  states,  municipalities,  public
authorities  or similar entities to finance  the cost of acquiring, constructing
or improving various industrial projects. These projects are usually operated by
corporate entities. Issuers are obligated only to pay amounts due on the IRBs to
the extent that funds are available from the unexpended proceeds of the IRBs  or
receipts  or revenues of the issuer under  an arrangement between the issuer and
the corporate operator of  a project. The  arrangement may be in  the form of  a
lease, installment sale agreement, conditional sale agreement or loan agreement,
but  in each case  the payments to the  issuer are designed  to be sufficient to
meet the  payments of  amounts due  on the  IRBs. Regardless  of the  structure,
payment  of IRBs is solely dependent  upon the creditworthiness of the corporate
operator of  the  project and,  if  applicable, corporate  guarantor.  Corporate
operators  or  guarantors may  be affected  by  many factors  which may  have an
adverse impact on  the credit  quality of  the particular  company or  industry.
These include cyclicality of revenues and earnings, regulatory and environmental
restrictions,  litigation  resulting  from  accidents  or environmentally-caused
illnesses, extensive competition  and financial deterioration  resulting from  a
corporate  restructuring pursuant to a leveraged buy-out, takeover or otherwise.
Such a restructuring  may result in  the operator of  a project becoming  highly
leveraged  which may have an impact on such operator's creditworthiness which in
turn would have  an adverse impact  on the  rating and/or market  value of  such
Bonds.  Further, the  possibility of  such a  restructuring may  have an adverse
impact on the market for and consequently  the value of such Bonds, even  though
no actual takeover or other action is ever contemplated or effected. The IRBs in
a  Trust may be subject to  special or extraordinary redemption provisions which
may provide for redemption  at par or,  in the case  of original issue  discount
bonds,  accreted value. The  Sponsor cannot predict the  causes or likelihood of
the redemption of IRBs in a Trust prior to the stated maturity of such Bonds.
 
    ELECTRIC UTILITY  OBLIGATIONS.    Some  of  the Bonds  in  a  Trust  may  be
obligations  of issuers  whose revenues are  primarily derived from  the sale of
electric energy. The problems  faced by such issuers  include the difficulty  in
obtaining  approval for timely  and adequate rate  increases from the applicable
public utility  commissions,  the  difficulty of  financing  large  construction
programs,  increased competition, reductions  in estimates of  future demand for
electricity in certain areas of the  country, the limitations on operations  and
increased costs and delays
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
attributable  to  environmental considerations,  the  difficulty of  the capital
market in absorbing utility debt, the difficulty in obtaining fuel at reasonable
prices and the  effect of  energy conservation. All  of such  issuers have  been
experiencing certain of these problems in varying degrees. In addition, Federal,
state  and  municipal  governmental authorities  may  from time  to  time review
existing,  and   impose  additional,   regulations  governing   the   licensing,
construction  and operation of nuclear power  plants, which may adversely affect
the ability of the issuers of certain of  the Bonds in a Trust to make  payments
of principal and/or interest on such Bonds.
 
    TRANSPORTATION  FACILITY REVENUE BONDS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may be
obligations of issuers which  are payable from and  secured by revenues  derived
from  the ownership and operation of airports, public transit systems and ports.
The major portion of  an airport's gross operating  income is generally  derived
from  fees received  from airlines pursuant  to use agreements  which consist of
annual payments for airport  use, occupancy of  certain terminal space,  service
fees  and  leases. Airport  operating income  may therefore  be affected  by the
ability of the airlines to meet their obligations under the use agreements.  The
air  transport industry is  experiencing significant variations  in earnings and
traffic,  due  to  increased  competition,  excess  capacity,  increased  costs,
deregulation,  traffic constraints and  other factors, and  several airlines are
experiencing severe financial difficulties.  In particular, facilities with  use
agreements involving airlines experiencing financial difficulty may experience a
reduction  in revenue due  to the possible  inability of these  airlines to meet
their use  agreement  obligations because  of  such financial  difficulties  and
possible  bankruptcy.  The Sponsor  cannot  predict what  effect  these industry
conditions may have on airport revenues  which are dependent for payment on  the
financial  condition of the  airlines and their usage  of the particular airport
facility. Bonds that are secured primarily by the revenue collected by a  public
transit  system  typically are  additionally secured  by a  pledge of  sales tax
receipts collected  at  the state  or  local  level, or  of  other  governmental
financial assistance. Transit system net revenues will be affected by variations
in  utilization,  which  in  turn  may  be  affected  by  the  degree  of  local
governmental subsidization, demographic and  population shifts, and  competition
from  other forms  of transportation;  and by  increased costs,  including costs
resulting from previous deferrals of maintenance. Port authorities derive  their
revenues  primarily from fees imposed on ships using the facilities. The rate of
utilization of such facilities may fluctuate depending on the local economy  and
on  competition from  competing forms  of transportation  such as  air, rail and
trucks.
 
    WATER AND/OR SEWERAGE  OBLIGATIONS.  Some  of the  Bonds in a  Trust may  be
obligations  of issuers whose revenues are derived from the sale of water and/or
sewerage services. Such Bonds are generally payable from user fees. The problems
of such  issuers  include  the  ability  to  obtain  timely  and  adequate  rate
increases,  population decline resulting in  decreased user fees, the difficulty
of financing  large construction  programs, the  limitations on  operations  and
increased  costs and  delays attributable  to environmental  considerations, the
increasing difficulty of obtaining or  discovering new supplies of fresh  water,
the  effect  of  conservation  programs and  the  impact  of  "no-growth" zoning
ordinances. All of such issuers have been experiencing certain of these problems
in varying degrees.
 
    UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE REVENUE  OBLIGATIONS.  Some of  the Bonds in a  Trust
may  be obligations  of issuers  which are,  or which  govern the  operation of,
colleges and universities and  whose revenues are  derived mainly from  tuition,
dormitory  revenues,  grants and  endowments. General  problems of  such issuers
include the prospect of a declining  percentage of the population consisting  of
"college"  age  individuals,  possible  inability  to  raise  tuitions  and fees
sufficiently to cover  increased operating costs,  the uncertainty of  continued
receipt  of  Federal grants  and state  funding,  and government  legislation or
regulations which may adversely  affect the revenues or  costs of such  issuers.
All  of such issuers have been experiencing certain of these problems in varying
degrees.
 
    BRIDGE AUTHORITY AND TOLLROAD OBLIGATIONS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may
be obligations  of issuers  which derive  their payments  from bridge,  road  or
tunnel toll revenues. The revenues of such an issuer could be adversely affected
by  competition from toll-free vehicular bridges and roads and alternative modes
of transportation. Such revenues could also be adversely affected by a reduction
in the availability of fuel to  motorists or significant increases in the  costs
thereof.  Specifically, governmental regulations restricting the use of vehicles
in the New  York City  metropolitan area may  adversely affect  revenues of  the
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
 
    DEDICATED-TAX  SUPPORTED  BONDS.   Some  of  the  Bonds in  a  Trust  may be
obligations of issuers which are payable from and secured by tax revenues from a
designated source, which revenues are pledged  to secure the bonds. The  various
types  of Bonds  described below  differ in  structure and  with respect  to the
rights of the bondholders to the underlying property. Each type of dedicated-tax
supported Bond has distinct risks, only some  of which are set forth below.  One
type  of dedicated-tax supported Bond is secured by the incremental tax received
on either real property or on  sales within a specifically defined  geographical
area;  such  tax generally  will  not provide  bondholders  with a  lien  on the
underlying property or revenues. Another type of dedicated-tax supported Bond is
secured by a special tax levied  on real property within a defined  geographical
area  in such  a manner that  the tax  is levied on  those who  benefit from the
project;  such   bonds  typically   provide  for   a  statutory   lien  on   the
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
underlying  property for unpaid  taxes. A third  type of dedicated-tax supported
Bond may be secured by a tax levied upon the manufacture, sale or consumption of
commodities or upon the license to pursue certain occupations or upon  corporate
privileges  within a taxing jurisdiction. As to any of these types of Bonds, the
ability of  the  designated  revenues  to satisfy  the  interest  and  principal
payments  on such  bonds may be  affected by  changes in the  local economy, the
financial success of the  enterprise responsible for the  payment of the  taxes,
the  value of  any property on  which taxes may  be assessed and  the ability to
collect such  taxes in  a timely  fashion. Each  of these  factors will  have  a
different affect on each distinct type of dedicated-tax supported bonds.
 
    MUNICIPAL LEASE BONDS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may be obligations that
are  secured  by lease  payments  of a  governmental  entity. Such  payments are
normally subject to  annual budget  appropriations of  the leasing  governmental
entity.  A governmental  entity that enters  into such a  lease agreement cannot
obligate future  governments to  appropriate  for and  make lease  payments  but
covenants  to take such action as is necessary to include any lease payments due
in its budgets and to make the appropriations therefor. A governmental  entity's
failure to appropriate for and to make payments under its lease obligation could
result  in insufficient funds  available for payment  of the obligations secured
thereby.
 
    ORIGINAL ISSUE  DISCOUNT BONDS  AND STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS.   Certain of  the
Bonds  in a Trust may be original  issue discount bonds. These Bonds were issued
with nominal  interest rates  less than  the rates  then offered  by  comparable
securities  and as a consequence  were originally sold at  a discount from their
face, or par, values. This original  issue discount, the difference between  the
initial  purchase price and face value, is deemed under current law to accrue on
a daily basis and the accrued  portion is treated as tax-exempt interest  income
for  federal income tax purposes. On sale  or redemption, gain, if any, realized
in excess of the earned  portion of original issue  discount will be taxable  as
capital  gain. See "What is the Tax Status of Unitholders". The current value of
an original issue discount bond reflects the present value of its face amount at
maturity. In a stable interest rate environment, the market value of an original
issue discount bond would  tend to increase  more slowly in  early years and  in
greater increments as the bond approached maturity.
 
    Certain  of the original issue discount bonds  in a Trust may be zero coupon
bonds. Zero coupon bonds do not provide for the payment of any current interest;
the buyer receives only the right to receive a final payment of the face  amount
of  the bond at its maturity. The effect of  owning a zero coupon bond is that a
fixed yield is earned not only on  the original investment but also, in  effect,
on  all  discount  earned  during  the life  of  the  obligation.  This implicit
reinvestment of earnings at the same rate eliminates the risk of being unable to
reinvest the income on such obligation at a rate as high as the implicit  yield,
but  at the same time also eliminates the holder's ability to reinvest at higher
rates in  the  future.  For  this  reason, zero  coupon  bonds  are  subject  to
substantially  greater  price  fluctuations during  periods  of  changing market
interest rates  than are  securities  of comparable  quality that  pay  interest
currently.
 
    Original  issue discount bonds, including zero  coupon bonds, may be subject
to redemption at prices  based on the  issue price plus  the amount of  original
issue   discount  accreted  to  redemption   (the  "accreted  value")  plus,  if
applicable, some premium.  Pursuant to  such call provisions  an original  issue
discount  bond may be called prior to its maturity date at a price less than its
face value. See the  "Schedules of Investments" for  more information about  the
call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
    Certain of the Bonds in a Trust may be Stripped Obligations, which represent
evidences  of ownership  with respect  to either  the principal  amount of  or a
payment of interest on a tax-exempt  obligation. An obligation is "stripped"  by
depositing  it with  a custodian, which  then effects a  separation in ownership
between the bond and any interest payment which has not yet become payable,  and
issues evidences of ownership with respect to such constituent parts. A Stripped
Obligation  therefore has economic characteristics similar to zero coupon bonds,
as described above.
 
    Each Stripped Obligation has  been purchased at a  discount from the  amount
payable  at maturity. With respect to each Unitholder, the Internal Revenue Code
treats as "original issue discount" that portion of the discount which  produces
a yield to maturity (as of the date of purchase of the Unitholder's Units) equal
to  the lower of the coupon rate of interest on the underlying obligation or the
yield to maturity on the basis of  the purchase price of the Unitholder's  Units
which  is allocable to  each Stripped Obligation.  Original issue discount which
accrues with respect to a Stripped Obligation will be exempt from Federal income
taxation to the  same extent  as interest  on the  underlying obligations.  (See
"WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
 
    Unitholders  should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the state
and local tax consequences of owning  original issue discount bonds or  Stripped
Obligations.  Under applicable  provisions governing determination  of state and
local taxes, interest on original  issue discount bonds or Stripped  Obligations
may  be deemed to  be received in  the year of  accrual even though  there is no
corresponding cash payment.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?
 
INSURANCE ON BONDS
 
INSURED TRUSTS--Insurance  guaranteeing the  timely payment,  when due,  of  all
principal  and interest on the Bonds in  each Insured Trust has been obtained by
the Sponsor or by the issuers or  underwriters of Bonds from the MBIA  Insurance
Corporation  (the "Insurer").  Some of  the Bonds in  each Insured  Trust may be
covered by  a  policy  or policies  of  insurance  obtained by  the  issuers  or
underwriters  of  the  Bonds  from  Municipal  Bond  Insurance  Association (the
"Association") or Bond Investors Guaranty Insurance Company ("BIG"). The Insurer
has issued a policy or policies of  insurance covering each of the Bonds in  the
Insured Trusts, each policy to remain in force until the payment in full of such
Bonds  and whether or not the Bonds continue  to be held by an Insured Trust. By
the terms  of each  policy the  Insurer will  unconditionally guarantee  to  the
holders  or owners of the Bonds the payment, when due, required of the issuer of
the Bonds of an amount  equal to the principal of  and interest on the Bonds  as
such  payments shall become due but not be paid (except that in the event of any
acceleration of the  due date of  principal by reason  of mandatory or  optional
redemption,  default or otherwise, the payments  guaranteed will be made in such
amounts and  at  such times  as  would  have been  due  had there  not  been  an
acceleration).  The  Insurer will  be responsible  for  such payments,  less any
amounts received by the holders or owners of the Bonds from any trustee for  the
bond  issuers or from  any other sources  other than the  Insurer. The Insurer's
policies relating to  small industrial development  bonds and pollution  control
revenue  bonds also guarantee the full and complete payments required to be made
by or on behalf  of an issuer  of Bonds pursuant  to the terms  of the Bonds  if
there  occurs an event which results in the loss of the tax-exempt status of the
interest on such Bonds,  including principal, interest  or premium payments,  if
any,  as and when thereby required. The Insurer has indicated that its insurance
policies do not insure the payment of  principal or interest on bonds which  are
not required to be paid by the issuer thereof because the bonds were not validly
issued;  as  indicated  under  "What  is the  Tax  Status  of  Unitholders?" the
respective issuing authorities have received  opinions of bond counsel  relating
to  the valid issuance of each of the Bonds in the Insured Trusts. The Insurer's
policy also does not insure against  non-payment of principal of or interest  on
the Bonds resulting from the insolvency, negligence or any other act or omission
of the trustee or other paying agent for the Bonds. The policy is not covered by
the Property/Casualty Insurance Security Fund specified in Article 76 of the New
York  Insurance Law. The policies are non-cancellable and the insurance premiums
have been fully paid on or prior to  the Date of Deposit, either by the  Sponsor
or, if a policy has been obtained by a Bond issuer, by such issuer.
 
    Upon  notification from  the trustee  for any bond  issuer or  any holder or
owner of the Bonds or coupons that such trustee or paying agent has insufficient
funds to pay any  principal or interest  in full when due,  the Insurer will  be
obligated  to deposit funds  promptly with State Street  Bank and Trust Company,
N.A., New York, New York, as fiscal  agent for the Insurer, sufficient to  fully
cover the deficit. If notice of nonpayment is received on or after the due date,
the  Insurer will provide for payment  within one business day following receipt
of the notice. Upon payment  by the Insurer of  any Bonds, coupons, or  interest
payments,  the Insurer shall succeed  to the rights of  the owner of such Bonds,
coupons or interest payments with respect thereto.
 
    The Insurer is the principal operating subsidiary of MBIA, Inc., a New  York
Stock  Exchange listed company. MBIA, Inc. is  not obligated to pay the debts of
or claims against the  Insurer. The Insurer is  a limited liability  corporation
rather  than a  several liability association.  The Insurer is  domiciled in the
State of New York and licensed to do business in all 50 states, the District  of
Columbia,  the Commonwealth  of Puerto  Rico, the  Commonwealth of  the Northern
Mariana Islands, the Virgin  Islands of the United  States and the Territory  of
Guam. The Insurer has one European branch in the Republic of France.
 
    As  of  June  30, 1995  the  Insurer  had admitted  assets  of  $3.6 billion
(unaudited), total liabilities  of $2.4 billion  (unaudited), and total  capital
and  surplus of $1.2 billion (unaudited) determined in accordance with statutory
accounting  practices   prescribed   or  permitted   by   insurance   regulatory
authorities.  As of December 31,  1994, the Insurer had  admitted assets of $3.4
billion (audited),  total  liabilities  of $2.3  billion  (audited),  and  total
capital  and surplus  of $1.1  billion (audited)  determined in  accordance with
statutory accounting practices prescribed  or permitted by insurance  regulatory
authorities.  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
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
Association.  Each insurance  company's participation  is backed  by all  of its
assets. However,  each insurance  company  is a  multiline insurer  involved  in
several  lines of insurance other than  municipal bond insurance, and the assets
of each insurance  company also  secure all of  its other  insurance policy  and
surety bond obligations.
 
    The  following table sets forth certain unaudited financial information with
respect  to  the  five  insurance  companies  comprising  the  Association.  The
statistics, which have been furnished by the Association, are as reported by the
insurance  companies  to  the  New  York  State  Insurance  Department  and  are
determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles. No representation
is made herein as to the accuracy or  adequacy of such information or as to  the
absence  of material adverse changes in  such information subsequent to the date
thereof. In addition,  these numbers  are subject to  revision by  the New  York
State  Insurance Department which, if revised, could either increase or decrease
the amounts.
 
                      MUNICIPAL BOND INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
      FIVE MEMBER COMPANIES ASSETS AND POLICYHOLDERS' SURPLUS (UNAUDITED)
                           AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1994.
                                (000'S OMITTED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   NEW YORK         NEW YORK         NEW YORK
                                                                                   STATUTORY        STATUTORY     POLICYHOLDERS
                                                                                    ASSETS         LIABILITIES       SURPLUS
                                                                                ---------------  ---------------  --------------
<S>                                                                             <C>              <C>              <C>
The AEtna Casualty & Surety Company...........................................  $    10,030,200  $     8,275,300   $  1,754,900
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company..............................................        6,815,775        4,904,534      1,911,241
The Travelers Indemnity Company...............................................       10,295,359        8,515,392      1,779,967
CIGNA Property and Casualty Company (formerly AEtna Insurance Company)........        5,112,251        4,842,235        270,016
The Continental Insurance Company.............................................        2,794,536        2,449,805        344,731
                                                                                ---------------  ---------------  --------------
        Total.................................................................  $    35,048,121  $    28,987,266   $  6,060,855
                                                                                ---------------  ---------------  --------------
                                                                                ---------------  ---------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
   Standard & Poor's Corporation rates all new issues insured by the Association
"AAA" Prime Grade.
 
   Moody's Investors Service rates  all bond issues  insured by the  Association
"Aaa"  and  short term  loans  "MIG 1",  both designated  to  be of  the highest
quality.
 
   Each such rating should  be evaluated independently of  any other rating.  No
application  has  been  made to  any  other  rating agency  in  order  to obtain
additional ratings  on the  Bonds.  The ratings  reflect the  respective  rating
agency's  current assessment of the creditworthiness  of the Association and its
ability to pay claims on its  policies of insurance. Any further explanation  as
to  the  significance  of  the  above ratings  may  be  obtained  only  from the
applicable rating agency.
 
   Moody's Investors Service rates all bond issues insured by the Insurer  "Aaa"
and short-term loans "MIG 1," both designated to be of the highest quality.
 
   Standard  &  Poor's Ratings  Group, a  division of  McGraw Hill  ("Standard &
Poor's") rates all new issues insured by the Insurer "AAA" Prime Grade."
 
   The Moody's  Investors Service  rating  of the  Insurer should  be  evaluated
independently  of the  Standard & Poor's  Corporation rating of  the Insurer. No
application has  been  made  to any  other  rating  agency in  order  to  obtain
additional  ratings  on the  Bonds. The  ratings  reflect the  respective rating
agency's current  assessment of  the  creditworthiness of  the Insurer  and  its
ability  to  pay  claims  on  its policies  of  insurance  (See  "Description of
Ratings.") Any further explanation as to  the significance of the above  ratings
may be obtained only from the applicable rating agency.
 
   The above ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the Bonds, and
such  ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating
agencies. Any downward revision or withdrawal of either or both ratings may have
an adverse effect on the market price of the Bonds.
 
   Because the insurance on the Bonds will be effective so long as the Bonds are
outstanding, such insurance will be taken into account in determining the market
value of the Bonds and therefore some value attributable to such insurance  will
be  included in the value of the Units of the Insured Trusts. The insurance does
not, however, guarantee the market value of the Bonds or of the Units.
 
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
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
outstanding  and the insurer remains in  business. Insurance relates only to the
particular Bond and not to  the Units offered hereby  or to their market  value.
Insured Bonds have received a rating of "Aaa" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
and/or "AAA" by Standard & Poor's Corporation in recognition of such insurance.
 
    If  a Bond in a Traditional Trust is insured, the Schedule of Investments in
Part A of  this Prospectus  will identify the  insurer. Such  insurance will  be
provided  by  Financial  Guaranty Insurance  Company  ("FGIC"),  AMBAC Indemnity
Corporation ("AMBAC"), Bond Investors Guaranty  Insurance Company, now known  as
MBIA  Corp. of  Illinois ("BIG"),  Capital Guaranty  Insurance Company ("CGIC"),
Financial Security Assurance, Inc. ("FSA"), Municipal Bond Insurance Association
(the "Association"), MBIA Insurance Corporation ("MBIA") or Connie Lee Insurance
Company ("ConnieLee"). The Sponsor to  date has purchased and presently  intends
to purchase insurance for Bonds in Traditional Trusts exclusively from MBIA (see
the  preceding disclosure  regarding MBIA). There  can be no  assurance that any
insurer listed therein  will be  able to satisfy  its commitments  in the  event
claims  are made in the future. However, Standard & Poor's Corporation has rated
the claims-paying ability of each  insurer "AAA," and Moody's Investors  Service
has  rated  all bonds  insured by  each such  insurer, except  ConnieLee, "Aaa."
Moody's Investor's Service gives no ratings for bonds insured by ConnieLee.
 
    Because any such insurance  will be effective so  long as the insured  Bonds
are  outstanding, such insurance  will be taken into  account in determining the
market value  of  such Bonds  and  therefore  some value  attributable  to  such
insurance  will be included in the value of the Units of the Trust that includes
such Bonds. The insurance does not,  however, guarantee the market value of  the
Bonds or of the Units.
 
ACCUMULATION PLAN
 
The  Sponsor, John Nuveen & Co.  Incorporated, is also the principal underwriter
of the  Nuveen Municipal  Bond Fund,  Inc. (the  "Bond Fund"),  Nuveen  Tax-Free
Reserves, Inc. ("Tax-Free Reserves"), Nuveen California Tax-Free Fund, Inc. (the
"California  Fund"),  Nuveen Tax-Free  Bond Fund,  Inc. ("Tax-Free  Bond Fund"),
Nuveen Insured Tax-Free  Bond Fund, Inc.  (the "Insured Bond  Fund") and  Nuveen
Tax-Free  Money  Market Fund,  Inc.  (the "Money  Market  Fund") and  the Nuveen
Multistate  Tax-Free  Trust  (the  "Multistate  Trust").  Each  of  these  funds
(together,  the  "Accumulation Funds")  is  an open-end,  diversified management
investment  company  into  which  Unitholders  may  choose  to  reinvest   Trust
distributions  automatically,  without any  sales  charge. (Reinvestment  in the
California Fund is available only  to Unitholders who are California  residents.
Reinvestment in the State Portfolios of the Tax-Free Bond Fund, the Insured Bond
Fund,  the  Money Market  Fund and  the  Multistate Trust  is available  only to
Unitholders who  are residents  of  the states  for  which such  portfolios  are
named.)  Unitholders may reinvest  both interest and  principal distributions or
principal distributions only. Each  Accumulation Fund has investment  objectives
which  differ in  certain respects from  those of  the Trusts and  may invest in
securities which would not be eligible for deposit in the Trusts. The investment
adviser to  each Accumulation  Fund  is Nuveen  Advisory Corp.,  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary  of  the  Sponsor. The  following  is  a general  description  of the
investment objectives  and  policies  of  each Accumulation  Fund.  For  a  more
detailed description, Unitholders should read the prospectus of the Accumulation
Fund in which they are interested.
 
THE BOND FUND
 
    The  Bond  Fund has  the  objective of  providing,  through investment  in a
professionally managed portfolio of long-term  municipal bonds, as high a  level
of  current interest income exempt from Federal income tax as is consistent with
preservation of capital. The Bond Fund  may include in its portfolio  tax-exempt
bonds  rated Baa or BBB or better by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, unrated bonds
which, in the  opinion of  the investment adviser,  have credit  characteristics
equivalent  to  bonds  rated  Baa  or  BBB  or  better,  and  certain  temporary
investments, including securities the interest income from which may be  subject
to Federal income tax.
 
TAX-FREE RESERVES
 
    Tax-Free  Reserves is a  "money market" fund that  includes in its portfolio
only obligations  maturing  within  one  year  from  the  date  of  acquisition,
maintains an average maturity of all investments of 120 days or less, values its
portfolio at amortized cost and seeks to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per
share. It provides checkwriting and expedited wire redemption privileges for its
shareholders.   Tax-Free  Reserves  has  the  objective  of  providing,  through
investment in  a professionally  managed portfolio  of high  quality  short-term
municipal  obligations, as high  a level of current  interest income exempt from
Federal income  tax  as is  consistent  with  preservation of  capital  and  the
maintenance  of  liquidity.  Tax- Free  Reserves  may include  in  its portfolio
municipal obligations rated Aaa, Aa, MIG-1, VMIG-1 or Prime-1 by Moody's or AAA,
AA, SP-1 or A-1 by Standard & Poor's, unrated municipal obligations that, in the
opinion of the  investment adviser,  have credit  characteristics equivalent  to
obligations   rated  as  above,  tax-exempt   obligations  backed  by  the  U.S.
Government, and temporary investments that may be subject to Federal income tax.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
THE CALIFORNIA FUND
 
    The California Fund has  the objective of  providing, through investment  in
professionally managed portfolios of California municipal obligations, as high a
level  of current interest income exempt from both Federal and California income
taxes as is consistent with the investment policies of each of the portfolios of
the California Fund  and with  preservation of  capital. Each  portfolio of  the
California  Fund may include  temporary investments that may  be subject to tax.
California Unitholders may reinvest in one of three portfolios of the California
Fund: The Nuveen California Tax-Free  Value Fund, the Nuveen California  Insured
Tax-Free Value Fund and the Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund.
 
    The  Nuveen California  Tax-Free Value  Fund invests  primarily in long-term
investment grade  California tax-exempt  bonds (I.E.,  bonds rated  in the  four
highest  categories by Moody's  or Standard &  Poor's or, if  unrated, that have
equivalent credit characteristics). The Nuveen California Insured Tax-Free Value
Fund invests  primarily in  the same  type of  investments as  the Special  Bond
Portfolio, each of which is covered by insurance guaranteeing the timely payment
of  principal  and  interest  or  is backed  by  a  deposit  of  U.S. Government
securities.
 
    The Nuveen  California  Tax-Free  Money Market  Fund  invests  primarily  in
high-quality  short term California tax-  exempt money market instruments (I.E.,
obligations rated in the two highest categories by Moody's or Standard &  Poor's
or,  if unrated,  that have  equivalent credit  characteristics). This portfolio
will include  only  obligations  maturing  within one  year  from  the  date  of
acquisition, will maintain an average maturity of all investments of 120 days or
less, will value its portfolio at amortized cost and will seek to maintain a net
asset value of $1.00 per share. The Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
provides for an expedited wire redemption privilege.
 
THE TAX-FREE BOND FUND
 
    The  Tax-Free Bond Fund consists of  the Nuveen Massachusetts Tax-Free Value
Fund, the Nuveen New  York Tax-Free Value Fund,  the Nuveen Ohio Tax-Free  Value
Fund,  and the Nuveen New  Jersey Tax-Free Value Fund,  which are each available
for reinvestment to Unitholders  who are residents of  the state for which  such
portfolio  is  named. The  Tax-Free Bond  Fund has  the objective  of providing,
through investment in a professionally managed portfolio of municipal bonds,  as
high  a level of current interest income exempt both from Federal income tax and
from the  income  tax  imposed  by  each  portfolio's  designated  state  as  is
consistent  with preservation of capital. The  Tax-Free Bond Fund may include in
each of its  portfolios tax-exempt  bonds rated Baa  or BBB  or better;  unrated
bonds   which,  in   the  opinion  of   the  investment   adviser,  have  credit
characteristics equivalent to  bonds rated  Baa or  BBB or  better; and  certain
temporary  investments, including securities the  interest income from which may
be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
THE INSURED BOND FUND
 
    The Insured Bond Fund  consists of the Nuveen  Insured Municipal Bond  Fund,
the  Nuveen Massachusetts  Insured Tax-Free Value  Fund and the  Nuveen New York
Insured Tax-Free  Value  Fund, which  are  each available  for  reinvestment  to
Unitholders.  (The Massachusetts and  New York Portfolios  are available only to
those Unitholders who  are residents  of the 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,
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
have  credit  characteristics  equivalent  to obligations  rated  as  above; and
temporary investments that may be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
THE MULTISTATE TRUST
 
    The Multistate Trust consists of the Nuveen Arizona Tax-Free Value Fund, the
Nuveen Florida Tax-Free Value Fund, the Nuveen Maryland Tax-Free Value Fund, the
Nuveen Michigan Tax-Free Value Fund, the Nuveen New Jersey Tax-Free Value  Fund,
the  Nuveen Pennsylvania  Tax-Free Value Fund  and the Nuveen  Virginia Tax Free
Value Fund, which  are each available  for reinvestment to  Unitholders who  are
residents  of the state for which such  portfolio is named. The Multistate Trust
has the objective of providing,  through investment in a professionally  managed
portfolio  of municipal bonds, as high a level of current interest income exempt
from both regular Federal  income tax and the  applicable state personal  income
tax  as is  consistent with  preservation of  capital. The  Multistate Trust may
include in  each of  its portfolios  tax-exempt bonds  rated "Baa"  or "BBB"  or
better,  unrated bonds  which, in  the opinion  of the  investment advisor, have
credit characteristics  equivalent to  bonds  rated "baa"  or "BBB"  or  better,
limited  to  no more  than 20%  of  the Multistate  Trust's assets,  and certain
temporary investments that may be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
    Each person who purchases Units of a  Trust may become a participant in  the
Accumulation  Plan and elect  to have his  or her distributions  on Units of the
Trust invested directly in shares of one of the Accumulation Funds.  Reinvesting
Unitholders   may  select  any  interest  distribution  plan.  Thereafter,  each
distribution  of  interest  income  or  principal  on  the  participant's  Units
(principal  only in  the case of  a Unitholder  who has chosen  to reinvest only
principal distributions) will, on the applicable distribution date, or the  next
day  on which the New  York Stock Exchange is  normally open ("business day") if
the distribution  date is  not  a business  day,  automatically be  received  by
Shareholder  Services, Inc., transfer agent for  each of the Accumulation Funds,
on behalf of such participant  and applied on that  date to purchase shares  (or
fractions  thereof)  of  the Accumulation  Fund  chosen  at net  asset  value as
computed as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each such date. All distributions  will
be  reinvested  in the  Accumulation Fund  chosen  and no  part thereof  will be
retained in a  separate account. These  purchases will be  made without a  sales
charge.
 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Sponsor and Underwriter, was founded in 1898
and  is  the oldest  and  largest investment  banking  firm specializing  in the
underwriting and distribution of tax-exempt securities and maintains the largest
research department in the investment  banking community devoted exclusively  to
the  analysis of municipal securities. In  1961 the Sponsor began sponsoring the
Nuveen Tax-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
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
Municipal Fund, Nuveen Michigan Premium Income Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen  New
Jersey  Premium Income  Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  Insured New  York Premium
Income Municipal Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Ohio Premium  Income Municipal Fund,  Inc.,
Nuveen  Pennsylvania Premium Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen Texas Premium Income
Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen   Premium  Income  Municipal   Fund  4,  Inc.,   Nuveen
Pennsylvania  Premium Income  Municipal Fund  2, Nuveen  Insured Florida Premium
Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen  Maryland Premium Income Municipal Fund,  Nuveen
Virginia  Premium  Income Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen Massachusetts  Premium Income
Municipal Fund, Nuveen Insured California Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Inc.,
Nuveen Insured  New York  Premium Income  Municipal Fund  2, Nuveen  New  Jersey
Premium  Income  Municipal Fund  2, Nuveen  Washington Premium  Income Municipal
Fund, Nuveen Michigan Premium  Income Municipal Fund  2, Nuveen Georgia  Premium
Income  Municipal Fund,  Nuveen Missouri  Premium Income  Municipal Fund, Nuveen
Connecticut Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen North Carolina Premium  Income
Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen  New Jersey  Premium  Income Municipal  Fund  3, Nuveen
Florida Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen New York Premium Income  Municipal
Fund,  Nuveen  California  Premium Income  Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen Pennsylvania
Premium Income Municipal Fund 3, Nuveen Maryland Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen
Virginia Premium Income Municipal Fund  2, Nuveen Ohio Premium Income  Municipal
Fund  2,  Nuveen  Insured Premium  Income  Municipal Fund  2,  Nuveen California
Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, all registered closed-end management investment
companies.  These  registered  open-end  and  closed-end  investment   companies
currently  have  approximately  $32.8  billion  in  tax-exempt  securities under
management. Nationwide, more than 1,000,000 individual investors have  purchased
Nuveen's  tax exempt trusts and funds.  The present corporation was organized in
1967 as  a  wholly-owned subsidiary  of  Nuveen Corporation,  successor  to  the
original  John  Nuveen  & Co.  founded  in  1898 as  a  sole  proprietorship and
incorporated in  1953.  In  1974,  John  Nuveen  &  Co.  Incorporated  became  a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of The  St. Paul Companies,  Inc., a financial services
management company  located in  St. Paul,  Minnesota. On  May 19,  1992,  common
shares  comprising a  minority interest  in The  John Nuveen  Company ("JNC"), a
newly organized corporation which holds all  of the shares of Nuveen, were  sold
to  the  general  public in  an  initial  public offering.  St.  Paul  retains a
controlling interest in  JNC with over  70% of  JNC's shares. The  Sponsor is  a
member  of  the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  and  the
Securities Industry Association and has its principal offices located in Chicago
(333 W. Wacker Drive) and New York  (Swiss Bank Tower, 10 East 50th Street).  It
maintains 14 regional offices.
 
    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.
 
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS*
 
    STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION.  A  description of the applicable Standard  &
Poor's Corporation rating symbols and their meanings follows:
 
    A  Standard & Poor's rating is  a current assessment of the creditworthiness
of an obligor with  respect to a specific  debt obligation. This assessment  may
take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers or lessees.
 
    The  rating is not  a recommendation to  purchase, sell or  hold a security,
inasmuch as  it  does not  comment  as to  market  price or  suitability  for  a
particular investor.
 
    The  ratings are  based on  current information  furnished by  the issuer or
obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. Standard
& Poor's does not  perform an audit  in connection with any  rating and may,  on
occasion,  rely on unaudited financial information.  The ratings may be changed,
suspended or withdrawn  as a result  of changes in,  or unavailability of,  such
information, or for other circumstances.
 
    The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:
 
     I.  Likelihood  of default--capacity and  willingness of the  obligor as to
         the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance
         with the terms of the obligation;
 
     II.  Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
 
----------
*As published by the rating companies.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
    III.  Protection afforded by,  and relative position  of, the obligation  in
          the  event of  bankruptcy, reorganization or  other arrangements under
          the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
 
    AAA--This is the  highest rating  assigned by Standard  & Poor's  to a  debt
obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
 
    AA--Bonds  rated AA have  a very strong  capacity to pay  interest and repay
principal, and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
 
    A--Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
 
    BBB--Bonds rated BBB  are regarded  as having  an adequate  capacity to  pay
interest  and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse  economic  conditions  or changing  circumstances  are  more
likely  to lead to a  weakened capacity to pay  interest and repay principal for
bonds in this category than for bonds in the higher rated categories.
 
    PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-): The ratings from "AA" to "BB" may be modified by  the
addition  of a  plus or minus  sign to  show relative standing  within the major
rating categories.
 
    PROVISIONAL  RATINGS:  The   letter  "p"  indicates   that  the  rating   is
provisional.  A  provisional rating  assumes  the successful  completion  of the
project being financed by  the issuance of the  bonds being rated and  indicates
that  payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon
the successful and timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while
addressing credit  quality subsequent  to completion  of the  project, makes  no
comment  on the  likelihood of,  or the  risk of  default upon  failure of, such
completion. Accordingly,  the investor  should exercise  his own  judgment  with
respect to such likelihood and risk.
 
    NOTE  RATINGS:  A  Standard  & Poor's  note  rating  reflects  the liquidity
concerns and market access risks unique to  notes. Notes due in 3 years or  less
will  likely receive  a note  rating. Notes  maturing beyond  3 years  will most
likely receive a long-term debt rating.
 
    Note rating symbols are as follows:
 
        SP-1  Very strong  or strong  capacity to  pay principal  and  interest.
              Those   issues   determined   to   possess   overwhelming   safety
              characteristics will be given a plus (+) designation.
 
        SP-2  Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
 
RATINGS OF INSURED TRUST UNITS.
 
    A Standard  & Poor's  rating on  the units  of an  insured investment  trust
(hereinafter  referred to  collectively as  "units" and  "trusts") is  a current
assessment of  creditworthiness with  respect  to the  investment held  by  such
trust.  This assessment takes  into consideration the  financial capacity of the
issuers and of any guarantors, insurers,  lessees or mortgagors with respect  to
such investments. The assessment, however, does not take into account the extent
to  which  trust expenses  or  portfolio asset  sales  for less  than  the trust
purchase price  will  reduce payment  to  the  unitholder of  the  interest  and
principal  required to be paid on the  portfolio assets. In addition, the rating
is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold units, inasmuch as the  rating
does not comment as to market price of the units or suitability for a particular
investor.
 
    Units rated "AAA" are composed exclusively of assets that are rated "AAA" by
Standard  &  Poor's and/or  certain  short-term investments.  Standard  & Poor's
defines its  AAA  rating for  such  assets as  the  highest rating  assigned  by
Standard  & Poor's  to a  debt obligation.  Capacity to  pay interest  and repay
principal is very strong.  However, unit ratings may  be subject to revision  or
withdrawal  at any time by Standard & Poor's and each rating should be evaluated
independently of any other rating.
 
    MOODY'S INVESTORS  SERVICE, INC.    A brief  description of  the  applicable
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. rating symbols and their meanings follows:
 
    Aaa--Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry
the  smallest degree of investment  risk and are generally  referred to as "gilt
edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally  stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to  change, such changes  as can be  visualized are most  unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues. Their safety is so absolute  that,
with  the  occasional  exception  of oversupply  in  a  few  specific instances,
characteristically, their  market  value  is affected  solely  by  money  market
fluctuations.
 
    Aa--Bonds  which  are rated  Aa  are judged  to be  of  high quality  by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as
high grade bonds. They are  rated lower than the  best bonds because margins  of
protection  may  not  be  as  large as  in  Aaa  securities  or  fluctuations of
protective elements may be of
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
greater amplitude  or  there  may  be other  elements  present  which  make  the
long-term  risks appear  somewhat larger  than in  Aaa securities.  Their market
value is  virtually  immune  to  all  but  money  market  influences,  with  the
occasional exception of oversupply in a few specific instances.
 
    A--Bonds  which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and
are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving  security
to  principal and interest are considered  adequate, but elements may be present
which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. The  market
value  of A-rated bonds may be influenced to some degree by economic performance
during a sustained period of depressed business conditions, but, during  periods
of  normalcy,  A-rated  bonds  frequently  move  in  parallel  with  Aaa  and Aa
obligations, with  the occasional  exception  of oversupply  in a  few  specific
instances.
 
    Moody's  bond rating  symbols may contain  numerical modifiers  of a generic
rating classification. The modifier 1 indicates that the bond ranks at the  high
end  of its  category; the  modifier 2  indicates a  mid-range ranking;  and the
modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating
category.
 
    Baa--Bonds which are rated Baa  are considered as medium grade  obligations,
i.e.,  they are neither  highly protected nor  poorly secured. Interest payments
and principal security appear  adequate for the  present but certain  protective
elements  may be lacking or may  be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such  bonds lack outstanding  investment characteristics and  in
fact  have speculative  characteristics as well.  The market  value of Baa-rated
bonds is more  sensitive to changes  in economic circumstances,  and aside  from
occasional  speculative factors applying to some bonds of this class, Baa market
valuations move in  parallel with Aaa,  Aa and A  obligations during periods  of
economic normalcy, except in instances of oversupply.
 
    Con.  (--)--Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some
act or the  fulfillment of  some condition  are rated  conditionally. These  are
bonds  secured by (a)  earnings of projects under  construction, (b) earnings of
projects unseasoned  in  operation  experience, (c)  rentals  which  begin  when
facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition
attaches.  Parenthetical rating denotes probable  credit stature upon completion
of construction or elimination of basis of condition.
 
    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.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX A
                              NATIONAL DISCLOSURE
 
NATIONALLY DIVERSIFIED TRUST TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
(NATIONAL INSURED TRUST)
 
    The  following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current returns
for individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current  returns
under  published  1994  marginal  Federal  tax  rates.  The  tables  incorporate
increased tax  rates for  higher-income tax  payers that  were included  in  the
Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993. The tables illustrate what you would have to
earn on taxable investments to equal the tax-exempt estimated current return for
your  income tax bracket. A taxpayer's marginal tax rate is affected by both his
taxable income and his adjusted gross income. Locate your adjusted gross  income
and  your taxable  income (which  is your adjusted  gross income  reduced by any
deductions and  exemptions), then  locate your  tax bracket  based on  joint  or
single  tax  filing. Read  across to  the  equivalent taxable  estimated current
return you would need to match the tax-free income.
 
  MARGINAL FEDERAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED
    TAXABLE        GROSS                                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      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- 38.0 $     0-111.8      15.0   %     5.59    5.88    6.18    6.47    6.76    7.06    7.35    7.65
    38.0- 91.9       0-111.8      28.0         6.60    6.94    7.29    7.64    7.99    8.33    8.68    9.03
                 111.8-167.7      29.0         6.69    7.04    7.39    7.75    8.10    8.45    8.80    9.15
    91.9-140.0       0-111.8      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                 111.8-167.7      32.0         6.99    7.35    7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19    9.56
                 167.7-290.2      34.5         7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92
   140.0-250.0   111.8-167.7      37.0         7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32
                 167.7-290.2      40.0         7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
                  Over 290.2      37.0   2     7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32
    Over 250.0   167.7-290.2      44.0         8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61
                  Over 290.2      41.0   3     8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02
</TABLE>
 
  MARGINAL FEDERAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED
    TAXABLE        GROSS                                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      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- 22.8 $     0-111.8      15.0   %     5.59    5.88    6.18    6.47    6.76    7.06    7.35    7.65
    22.8- 55.1       0-111.8      28.0         6.60    6.94    7.29    7.64    7.99    8.33    8.68    9.03
    55.1-115.0       0-111.8      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                 111.8-234.3      32.5         7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26    9.63
   115.0-250.0   111.8-234.3      38.0         7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48
                  Over 234.3      37.0   2     7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32
    Over 250.0    Over 234.3      41.0   3     8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02
<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-1
  

<PAGE>
                  

Statement of differences between electronic filing and printed document.
   Pursuant to Rule 499(c) (7) under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule
0-11 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Registrant hereby identifies
those differences in the foregoing document between the electronic format in
which it is filed and the printed form in which it will be circulated:
   (1) The printed and distributed prospectus may be paged differently
because the printed document may contain a different amount of information on
each page from that contained in the electronic transmission.
   (2) On the cover page, in the index and on the last page of the printed
document, solid vertical bars will appear.
   (3) In the printed document, footnote symbols may include a "dagger" or
multiple "dagger".  The "dagger" symbol is represented as # in the electronic
document.
   (4) The printed and distributed prospectus will not  contain the
preliminary prospectus legend included at the beginning of the first
prospectus page.


<PAGE>

                 NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 823

                             Cross-Reference Sheet

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

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


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

    I.   ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

7.  Changes of Name                                    *

8.  Fiscal Year

9.  Litigation

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

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

                                          )11 What Is The Tax Status of
                                          )   Unitholders?

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

12. Certain information regarding         )   *
    periodic payment certificates         )

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


<PAGE>


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


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

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

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

    (f)Ratio of annual charges
       to income                                *

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

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

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

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

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

    (b)Reinvestment of distributions      )14 Accumulation Plan

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

    (d)Schedule of distributions          )   *

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

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


<PAGE>


21. Loans to security holders             )   *

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

23. Bond arrangements                     )   *

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

    III. ORGANIZATION, PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATED PERSONS OF DEPOSITOR

25. Organization of Depositor             )23 Information About the Sponsor

26. Fees received by Depositor            )   *

27. Business of Depositor                 )23 Information About the Sponsor

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

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

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

<PAGE>


    IV.  DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

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

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

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

40. Certain fees received by principal    )   *
    underwriter


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

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

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


    (b)Schedule as to offering price      )   *

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

<PAGE>


45. Suspension of redemption rights       )   *

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

    (b)Schedule as to redemption price    )   *

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

    V.   INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN

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

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

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

    VI.  INFORMATION CONCERNING INSURANCE OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

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

                        VII.  POLICY OF REGISTRANT

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

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

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

    (d)Fundamental policy not otherwise   )   *
       covered                            )

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

    VIII. FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION

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

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

__________

*Inapplicable, omitted, answer negative or not required.



<PAGE>

                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A.  BONDING ARRANGEMENTS OF DEPOSITOR:

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

    INSURER/POLICY NO.                                     AMOUNT

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

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

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

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

    The facing sheet

    The Prospectus

    The signatures

    Consents of Counsel

    Exhibits


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
Registrant, Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 823, has duly caused 
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned 
thereunto  duly authorized in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois 
on 9/01/95.
 

                               NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 823
                                  (Registrant)

                                  By JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                                  (Depositor)

                              
                                    By:  Larry Woods Martin 
                                         _______________________
                                         Vice President
                                         

                              
                                Attest:  Morrison C. Warren
                                         ___________________
                                         Assistant Secretary 
                                         


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

SIGNATURE                    *TITLE                        DATE

Richard J. Franke       Chairman, Board of Directors, )
                        Chief Executive Officer and   )
                        Director                      )
                                                      )
Donald E. Sveen         President, Chief Operating    )
                        Officer and Director          )
                                                      )
Anthony T. Dean         Executive Vice President and  )Larry Woods Martin
                        Director                      )Attorney-in-Fact**
                                                      )
Timothy T. Schwertfeger Executive Vice President and  )
                        Director                      )
                                                      )
O. Walter Renfftlen     Vice President and Controller )
                        (Principal Accounting Officer))
                                                      )
                                                      )9/01/95

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


*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>


                          CONSENT OF CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

    The consent of Chapman and Cutler to the use of its name in the Prospectus
included in the Registration Statement will be filed by Amendment.

                            CONSENT OF STATE COUNSEL

    The consents of special counsel to the Fund for state tax matters to the
use of their names in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement
will be filed by Amendment.

                    CONSENT OF STANDARD + POOR'S CORPORATION

    The consent of Standard + Poor's Corporation to the use of its name
in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be filed by
Amendment.

                    CONSENT OF KENNY S+P EVALUATION SERVICES

    The consent of Kenny S+P Evaluation Services to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be filed by Amendment.

                      CONSENT OF CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN

    The consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be filed by Amendment.

                        CONSENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

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



<PAGE>

LIST OF EXHIBITS:

    1.1(a)    Copy of Trust Indenture and Agreement between John Nuveen & Co.
              Incorporated, Depositor, and United States Trust Company of
              New York, Trustee.  Filed as Exhibit 1.1(A) to the Sponsor's
              Registration Statement filed with respect to Series 723
              (File No. 33-52527) and is incorporated herein by reference. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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